^ 


Class  3   JO,S 


N4-4 


Madison  Ave.  and  49th  Street,  New  York. 
Beside  the  main  topic,  this  hook  also  treats  of 
Subject  No.  On  page  Subject  No.  On  page 


prtfautfct  (Retrtawwg  flmvtitta. 


A   PHONOGRAPHIC   REPORT 


DEBATES  AND    ADDRESSES, 


TOGETHER  WITH  THE 


ESSAYS   AND    RESOLUTIONS 


New  England  Methodist  Centenary  Convention, 


BOSTON,  JUNE   5-7,  1866. 


Phonographlcally  Reported  by  Reve.  W.  D.  Bbidgk  and  L.  A.  Bosworth. 


BOSTON: 

B.     B.     RUSSELL     Sc     CO. 

1866. 


53152 


Errata.    In  Dr.  Time's  speech,  he  was  reported  to  say  that  we  could  not 
understand  the  "  first  four  chapters  of  the  Bible,"  instead  of  the  following : 
that  "  No  one  could  explain  the  Book  of  Revelations  from  the  first  three  to 
near  the  last  three  chapters." 
Page  161,  fourth  line,  read  1684  instead  of  518. 
"      "    seventh  line,  read  3531  instead  of  3198. 
"      "    nineteenth  line,  read  1195  instead  of  185. 

"    162,  twenty-ninth  line,  the  sentence  beginning  with  the  word  "  Connec- 
ticut "  should  be  omitted. 
"      "    thirty-fourth  line,  read  21  instead  of  22. 
"    163,  second  line,  read  three  instead  of  these. 
"      "    twenty-eighth  line,  read  21  instead  of  22. 
"      "    thirty-first  line,  read  3531  instead  of  3198. 
"      "    thirty-second  line,  read  1684  instead  of  518. 
"    164,  first  line,  read  6814  instead  of  6247. 
"      "    second  line,  read  5034  instead  of  5944. 

"    167,  in  the  third,  sixteenth,  and  the  twenty-ninth  lines,  read  21  instead 

of  22  and  23. 

It  is  due,  also,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Twombly  to  say,  that  some  errors  in  his  Essay  are 

to  be  attributed  to  a  misunderstanding  of  the  Committee  respecting  the  reading 

of  the  proof;  as  the  result  of  which  the  proof  of  his  Essay  was  not  read  by 

himself,  nor  with  sufficient  care  by  the  Committee. 


2? FEB  34 


INNES    AND    NlLES, 

Stereo  tgperjs  artti  printer) 
37  Cornhill,  Boston. 


PREFACE 


Within  a  few  years,  a  desire  has  been  awakened 
among  the  Methodists  of  New  England  for  a  more 
general  acquaintance  and  co-operation  than  was  afforded 
by  any  of  the  existing  organizations  of  the  Church. 
This  feeling  first  found  public  expression  in  a  resolu- 
tion of  the  New  England  Conference,  in  April,  1865, 
which  called  on  the  Presiding  Elders  to  inaugurate 
"  District  Conventions,"  composed  of  an  equal  number 
of  ministers  and  laymen,  "  for  the  purpose  of  can- 
vassing the  wants  of  the  churches  within  their  dis- 
tricts." In  July,  of  the  same  year,  Dr.  Coggeshall,  in 
behalf  of  himself  and  Dr.  Webber,  suggested  in  "  Zion's 
Herald"  the  calling  of  a  New  England  Convention. 
The  idea  was  favorably  responded  to  by  a  number  of 
writers  in  the  "  Herald,"  and  also  by  the  Editor,  who 
suggested  that  the  then  approaching  camp-meetings 
would  afford  excellent  opportunities  for  consultation  and 
action  in  the  premises.  The  matter  was  accordingly 
called  up  at  the  various  camp-meetings,  in  August  and 
September,  and  committees  were  appointed  by  each,  to 
consult  with   similar  committees  from   the  others,  to  de- 


IV  PREFACE. 

termine  upon  the  propriety  of  holding  a  Convention, 
and  with  power  to  make  all  needful  arrangements.  The 
members  of  these  several  committees  were  called  to 
meet  in  Boston,  October  12.  The  interest  was  found 
to  be  such  as  to  warrant,  in  their  opinion,  the  calling 
of  the  Convention  as  proposed,  and  sub-committees  were 
appointed  to  complete  the  arrangements  for  the  meet- 
ing. But  the  season  was  now  so  far  advanced,  that 
it  was  thought  best  to  defer  the  time  of  meeting  till 
the  ensuing  summer,  which  would  also  bring  it  within 
the    Centenary   Year. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  anxieties  of  the  friends 
of  the  movement,  or  the  fears  of  its  opponents,  both 
were  alike  happily  dispelled  by  the  noble  delegation 
of  ministers  and  laymen  and  the  crowded  auditory 
present  at  the  opening  service  at  Grace  Church,  on 
the   morning   of  June    6. 

Such  was  the  number,  character,  and  success  of  the 
Convention,  that  before  its  close  a  general  desire  was 
felt  that  its  proceedings  should  be  preserved  in  a  per- 
manent form.  A  Committee  of  Publication  was  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose.  This  design  was  made  prac- 
ticable by  the  thoughtfulness  of  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements in  engaging  Messrs.  Bridge  and  Bosworth, 
skilled  phonographic  reporters,  to  take  careful  notes  of 
the  proceedings.  These  notes  were  immediately  written 
out,  and   placed   in   the   hands   of  the   Publishing   Com- 


PREFACE.  V 

mittcc.  Copies  of  tlio  Essays  have  been  kindly  fur- 
nished by  the  several  writers;  and  all  is  full  and  com- 
plete, save  some  of  the  speeches  at  the  Festival,  which 
we  are  obliged  to  give  in  condensed  form.  A  satis- 
factory arrangement  has  been  made  with  B.  B.  Russell, 
to  publish  the  proceedings  at  his  own  risk.  We  trust 
Bro.  B.'s  public  spirit  will  be  properly  appreciated 
and  rewarded.  On  the  whole,  the  Committee  are  glad 
to  believe  that  as  truthful  and  creditable  an  idea  of  the 
Convention  is  given  in  the  following  pages  as  can  be 
conveyed  to  those  not  actually  present.  The  cordial 
personal  greetings  of  such  a  multitude  of  Christian  breth- 
ren,—  the  soul-inspiring  singing,  —  the  visit  to  the  "Big 
Elm"  on  the  Common,  —  the  moving  eloquence  of  Bishop 
Simpson  and  others,  —  the  remarkable  spirit  of  love  and 
harmony  which  sanctified  and  beautified  the  whole,  — 
and,  last,  though  not  least,  the  precious  morning  prayer- 
meetings, —  all  these  characteristics  will  long  be  recalled 
by  those  present  as  among  the  choicest  remembrances 
of  the    Centenary   Year. 

Of  the  impression  made  on  the  public  mind  by  the 
Convention,  the  Committee  have  little  need  to  speak. 
The  religious  and  secular  press  have  uniformly  spoken 
of  it  as  one  of  the  largest  and  most  important  unofficial 
religious  gatherings  ever  assembled  in  this  country. 
We  simply  note  the  facts,  that  from  the  impressive  open- 
ing service  at  Grace  Church,  through  all  the  after  meet- 


VI  PREFACE. 

ings  at  the  spacious  Tremont  Temple,  and  at  the  final 
Festival  in  the  immense  Music  Hall,  the  main  floor  and 
galleries  were  entirely  filled ;  the  most  perfect  order 
prevailed ;  and  not  a  single  word  was  uttered  inconsistent 
with  the  dignity,  and  purity,  and  peace  of  the  gospel. 
At  least  twelve  hundred  regular  delegates  were  in  at- 
tendance, —  the  more  remote  Conferences  being  nearly 
as  well  represented  as  those  near  at  hand,  and  nearly 
one   half  of  the   whole   being  laymen. 

As  is  elsewhere  intimated,  the  Convention  was  an 
unofficial,  almost  an  impromptu,  gathering,  without  pre- 
cedent, and  without  ecclesiastical  authority ;  the  attend- 
ance was  unexpectedly  large,  the  time  limited,  and  the 
business  necessarily  hurried.  The  proceedings  have, 
likewise,  gone  through  the  press  while  the  Committee 
have  been  scattered,  and  absorbed  with  other  cares. 
Under  these  circumstances  it  can  hardly  be  hoped  that 
the  book  should  be  free  from  crudities  and  inaccuracies. 

In  conclusion,  the  Committee  feel  a  peculiar  pride  and 
pleasure  in  the  fact,  that  this  new  measure  to  revive 
and  intensify  the  old  connectional  spirit  of  Methodism 
has  been  so  successfully  inaugurated  in  New  England. 
Already  other  portions  of  the  Church  are  preparing  for 
similar  movements.  May  they  receive  like  manifesta- 
tions of  the  divine  favor,  and  be  equally  harmonious 
and   useful. 

THE   PUBLISHING   COMMITTEE. 

Boston,  July,  1866. 


CONTENTS 


Addresses  : 

Lieut.  Gov.  Claflin,  10,  218. 

Rev.  Wm.  McDonald,  14. 

Bishop  Simpson,  135,  194,  231. 

Rev.  Joseph  Marsh,  146. 

To  the  Methodists  of  New  England,  from  Business  Committee,  154. 

Rev.  Dr.  Crooks,  85,  187. 

Rev.  Dr.  Eddy,  59,  191. 

C.  C.  North,  106,  193. 

Rev.  E.  T.  Taylor,  64. 

Rev.  R.  S.  Stubbs,  211. 

Rev.  Dr.  Chickering,  214. 

Rev.  Dr.  Mattison,  60. 

Committees  : 

Nominating  Committee,  11.  Standing  Committees:  (1.)  Religious  Services, 
12 ;  (2.)  Business,  12,  13 ;  (3.)  Statistics,  13 ;  (4.)  Finance,  13 ;  (5.)  Creden- 
tials, 13 ;  (6.)  To  Call  another  Convention,  217. 

Discussions  : 

On  Essay  of  Dr.  Webber,  28-31.    (Dr.  Monroe,  28;  Rev.  J.  W.  Willet,  28; 

Rev.  J.  Thurston,  29;  John  Blackmer,  30.) 
On  Rev.  J.  Thurston's  Essay,  35-41.    (Dr.  Coggeshall,  35;  Rev.  N.  Culver, 

38;  Rev.  I.  J.  P.  Collyer,  40;  Rev.  Joseph  Enright,  41.) 
On  Dr.  Vail's  Essay,  49-51,  and  72-90.    (Mr.  Josiah  Hayden,  49 ;  Rev.  B.  W. 

Gorham,  72;  Dr.  True,  74;  Dr.  Coggeshall,  76;  Rev.  C.  Noble,  78;  Dr. 

Cooke,  79;  Rev.  G.  Prentice,  81 ;  Dr.  Cummings,  81 ;  Rev.  W.  F.  Mallalieu, 

83 ;  Dr.  Crooks,  85 ;  Dr.  Pickard,  88.) 
On  Dr.  Cummings'  Essay,  59-67.     (Dr.  Eddy,  59;  Dr.  Mattison,  60;  Dr. 

Cooke,  64;  Dr.  Butler,  64;  Father  Taylor,  64.) 
On  Essay  of  Wm.  C.  Brown,  Esq.,  102-112.    (Col.  Dickey,  102;  Hon.  J.  J. 

Perry,  103  ;  C.  C.  North,  106  ;  Hon.  Thos.  Kniel,  108  ;  Rev.  S.  Quimby, 

110;  Dr.  Ladd,  111.) 
On  Dr.  Barrows'  Essay,  119-124.    (Rev.  A.  F.  Bailey,  119;  Rev.  J.  W. 

Willet,  122.) 


V1U  CONTENTS. 


Essays  : 


The  importance  of  more  systematic  efforts  to  strengthen  the  weak  places  in 

our  Zion,  reviving  the  Circuit  system,  etc.,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Geo.  "Webber,  of 

Maine,  p.  19-27. 
Home  and  Sabbath-school  Instruction  in  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  our 

Church,  by  Rev.  Jas.  Thurston,  of  New  Hampshire,  p.  31-35. 
Ministerial  Education,  by  Rev.  Prof.  Vail,  of  the  Concord  Biblical  Institute, 

p.  41-48. 
The  Endowment  of  our  Educational  Institutions,  by  Rev.   J.  Cummings, 

President  Wesleyan  University,  Middlctown,  Conn.,  p.  51-59. 
The  Support  of  Public  Worship,  by  Wm.  C.  Brown,  Esq.,  Chelsea,  Mass.,  p. 

90-100. 
Ministerial  Transfers,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Barrows,  of  New  Hampshire,  p.  112-119. 
The  Development  of  the  Social  Power  of  the  Church,  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Twom- 

bly,  of  the  NeAv  England  Conference,  p.  124-135. 
The  Revival  and  Perpetuity  of  the  Connectional  Spirit  of  Methodism,  by 

Rev.  A.  Prince,  of  the  East  Maine  Conference,  148-154. 
What  ought  New  England  to  do  in  the  Centenary  movement  ?  by  Rev.  Dr. 

Patten,  of  the  Concord  Biblical  Institute,  p.  182-187. 

Letters  addressed  to  the  Convention,  68,  70. 

Organization  of  the  Convention,  10-13. 

Photographing  of  the  Convention  under  the  "  old  Elm,"  p.  100. 

Reports  : 

Committee  on  Statistics,  159-181 ;  on  Publication  of  Proceedings  of  the  Con- 
vention, 217. 

Resolutions  : 

Simplicity  of  Dress,  208 ;  New  England  Historical  and  Statistical  Board,  208 ; 
Duty  to  Manners,  208;  Election  of  Stewards,  209;  Centenary  Building  in 
Boston,  209 ;  Re-union  of  the  different  branches  of  the  Methodist  family, 
209;  Sabbath-schools,  209,  210;  State  of  the  Country,  216;  History  of  Con- 
cord Biblical  Institute,  218 ;  Thanks,  etc..  218. 

The  Festival: 

Opening  Exercises,  223 ;  Address  of  Rev.  Dr.  Peck,  224 :  Address  of  Governor 
Eullock,  225;  Address  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hatfield,  229;  Address  of  ex-Governor 
Evans,  230;  Closing  Address  of  Bishop  Simpson,  231. 


) 


DEBATES    AND    PROCEEDINGS 


New  England  Methodist  Centenary  Convention. 


O  3?  E  N I  N  G-      SESSION". 

A  Convention  of  the  M.  E.  Churches  of  New  England, 
called  in  accordance  with  a  generally-expressed  wish,  and 
as  appropriate  to  this  Centenary  year  of  Methodism  in 
America,  to  consider  subjects  appertaining  to  the  interests 
of  the  denomination,  assembled  at  Grace  Church,  Temple 
Street,  at  10  o'clock  Tuesday  morning,  June  5th,  1866. 
The  body  of  the  church  was  crowded  with  delegates,  and 
the  galleries  thronged  with  interested  spectators. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  by  Liverus  Hull 
Esq.,  of  Charlestown,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements for  the  Convention,  who  announced  that  Rev. 
Wm.  McDonald,  the  pastor  of  Grace  Church,  would  con- 
duct the  preliminary  religious  exercises.  The  latter  gave 
out  the  709th  hymn.  The  Scriptures  of  the  48th  Psalm 
and  the  1st  chapter  of  2d  Peter  were  read  by  Rev.  I.  J.  P. 
Collyer,  of  East  Cambridge,  and  a  fervent  and  comprehen- 
sive prayer  was  offered  by  Dr.  C.  K.  True,  of  Boston,  most 
of  those  present  kneeling  and  closing  with  the  Lord's 
Prayer  in  unison. 

After  singing  the  699th  hymn,  on  motion  of  Rev.  J.  H. 
Twombly,  of  Charlestown,  Hon.  Wm.  Claflin,  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  Massachusetts,  was  unanimously  chosen 


10  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

permanent  President  by  acclamation.  Rev.  Dr.  Cummings, 
President  of  Middletown  University,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Upham, 
of  Rhode  Island,  conducted  the  President  to  the  chair, 
and  he  addressed  the  Convention  as  follows :  — 

Brethren  of  the  Convention,  —  I  find  myself  in  a  some- 
what new  and  unused  position  ;  and  it  may  be  proper  for  me, 
before  proceeding  further,  to  state  the  circumstances  under 
which  I  am  placed  here. 

When  the  Convention  was  called,  it  was  thought  to  be  very 
proper  that  Bishop  Baker  should  preside  over  its  deliberations  ; 
which  opinion,  I  have  no  doubt,  you  will  agree  was  correct. 
But,  true  to  his  duty  as  a  Methodist,  and  true  to  the  interests 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  he  has  gone  to  California,  and 
cannot  be  with  you  to-day  to  participate  in  these  pleasant 
exercises. 

Again  the  Committee  thought  proper  to  call  a  distinguished 
gentleman  from  another  State,  -Gov.  Dillingham,  and  he  was 
with  us  j^esterday,  and  was  expected  to  preside  to-day  ;  but  he 
has  suddenly  been  called  away  to  the  border,  on  account  of  the 
Fenian  troubles,  and  forced  to  leave ;  so  that,  fifteen  minutes 
before  the  Convention,  the  Committee  came  to  me  in  a  desper- 
ate case,  and  called  me  to  the  position  in  which  your  partiality 
has  placed  me.  I  sincerely  thank  you  for  the  great  honor  you 
have  conferred  upon  me,  in  calling  me  to  preside  over  such  a 
distinguished  assembly  as  this,  —  an  honor  which  is  conferred 
on  so  few  in  like  position  in  this  country. 

Taking  a  retrospect  of  the  last  one  hundred  years,  indeed 
"  what  hath  God  wrought !  "  Commencing  with  a  few  persons 
in  a  small  chamber  in  New  York,  and  going  on  from  that  to  the 
sail  loft,  and  into  the  small  building,  the  Church  has  each  day 
made  its  progress,  has  gone  on  in  its  improvements,  until  the 
magnificent  church  which  you  see  here  adduces  the  power  of 
the  policy  which  Methodism  has  brought  into  the  world,  and 
the  wisdom  which  has  guided  the  fathers,  and  which,  I  trust, 
will  be  continued  to  you. 

How  has  the  work  been  taken  up  each  time  as  the  necessi- 
ties of  the  case  have  seemed  to  demand  !  How  has  Methodism 
adapted  itself  to  the  wants  of  the  human  race  !     The  Mission- 


ORGANIZATION.  1 1 

ary  Society  will  toll  3-011 !  The  people  have  come  up  and  sup- 
ported it,  until  millions  of  contributions  almost,  each  year,  ale 
necessary  for  its  sustenance. 

And  also  how  have  the  great  Christian  institutions  survived 
and  been  strengthened !  IIow  has  a  Fisk  been  raised  up,  to 
inspire  the  Church  by  his  eloquence  and  zeal  to  go  forward  in 
the  work  of  education  !  And  still  further,  how  has  a  Dempster 
gone  forth  to  the  threshold  of  death,  to  lead  men  to  preach  the 
truth  in  all  the  world ! 

But,  as  you  will  understand,  brethren,  I  am  not  here  to  make 
an  address,  under  the  circumstances.  I  cannot,  however, 
before  sitting  down,  but  refer  to  the  course  of  the  Church  in  the 
great  conflict  which  has  passed.  One  of  the  first  to  receive  the 
great  shock,  and  be  divided  by  the  advance  of  Christianity  and 
civilization,  how  has  she,  almost  to  a  man,  stood  up  in  the  hour 
of  darkness  !  How  our  sons  have  gone  forth  to  defend  the 
Church  and  the  great  principles  on  which  the  government 
stands  you  well  know.  The  great  principles  which  they  in- 
herited 3'ou  all  well  know,  and  this  country  ever  has  recog- 
nized. And  to-da}-  does  she  stand  surrounding  the  government 
by  men  who  are  true  to  the  principles  of  freedom.  God  grant 
that  in  all  the  future  of  the  work,  in  the  ages  yet  to  come, 
there  shall  be  no  faltering  in  rallying  round  the  cause  of  the 
Master,  and  showing  that  the  freedom  of  the  gospel  is  the 
freedom  of  man.     [Applause.] 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address,  the  President  asked 
the  Convention  to  appoint  a  temporary  Secretary,  where- 
upon Rev.  E.  A.  Manning,  of  South  Boston,  was  chosen. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Hull,  of  Charlestown,  a  Nominating 
Committee  was  appointed  to  complete  the  organization-. 
Rev.  John  H.  Twombly  and  Mr.  W.  0.  Brown,  of  the  New 
England  Conference;  Rev.  A.  C.  Manson  and  Mr.  John 
Trundy,  of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference ;  Rev.  Dr.  F. 
Upliam  and  Mr.  W.  B.  Lawton,  of  the  Providence  Confer- 
ence ;  Rev.  C.  F.  Allen,  and  Mr.  S.  R.  Leavitt,  of  the 
Maine  Conference;  Rev.  L.  D.  Wardwell  and  Mr.  A.  S. 
Weed,  of  the  East  Maine  Conference;    Rev.  IT.  VKLWor 


12  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

then  and  Mr.  Henry  Nutt,  of  the  Vermont  Conference, 
were  appointed  on  this  Committee. 

It  was  a  happy  suggestion  of  the  Chair,  while  the  Nom- 
inating Committee  were  out,  that  the  Convention  spend  the 
time  in  a  recess  for  fraternizing  with  each  other,  which 
was  greatly  enjoyed  by  all  present. 

On  the  return  of  the  Committee,  the  following  list  of 
officers  was  reported  and  adopted  :  — 

Vice  Presidents  —  Gov.  Paul  Dillingham,  of  Vermont ; 
Hon.  Jacob  Sleeper  and  Isaac  Rich,  of  Boston ;  Lee 
Claflin,  of  Hopkinton;  Benj.  Pitman,  of  New  Bedford; 
David  Snow,  of  Boston  ;  Hon.  J.  J.  Perry,  of  Oxford,  Me. ; 
Dr.  Win.  Prescott,  of  Concord,  N.  H. ;  Dr.  E.  Clarke,  of 
Portland,  Me. ;  Judge  "W.  J.  Hastings,  of  Craftsbury,  Vt. ; 
Rev.  Dr.  James  Porter,  of  New  York;  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph 
Cummings,  of  Middletown,  Conn. ;  Prof.  Johnston,  LL.  D., 
of  Middletown,  Conn.;  Rev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Merrill,  of  Concord, 
N.  H. ;  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson  E.  Cobleigh,  of  Boston  ;  Rev.  Paul 
Townsend,  of  Mansfield ;  Rev.  D.  B.  Randall,  of  Augusta, 
Me. ;  Rev.  Elisha  Adams,  of  Concord,  N.  H. ;  Rev.  A.  D.  Mer- 
rill, of  Cambridge  ;  Hon.  Wm.  McGilvery,  of  Searsport,  Me. ; 
Rev.  Geo.  Pratt,  of  Rockland,  Me. ;  Hon.  M.  J.  Talbot,  of 
East  Machias,  Me. ;  Rev.  Hubbard  Eastman,  of  Guilford,  Vt. 

Secretaries  —  Rev.  E.  A.  Manning,  of  the  New  England 
Conference ;  Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot,  of  the  Providence;  Rev.  J. 
W.  Guernsey,  of  the  New  Hampshire ;  Rev.  Israel  Luce,  of 
the  Vermont ;  Rev.  Asahel  Moore,  of  the  Maine  ;  and  Rev. 
B.  S.  Arey,  of  the  East  Maine  Conference  —  severally  the 
present  Secretaries  of  Conferences  —  and  Revs.  J.  G.  Cary, 
of  Roxbury  ;  C.  C.  Mason,  of  Maine ;  and  Mr.  J.  P.  Magee, 
of  Boston. 

The  following  Standing  Committees  were  appointed :  — 

On  Religious  Services  —  Revs.  W.  F.  Mallalieu  and 
Wm.  McDonald,  of  Boston,  and  Rev.  I.  J.  P.  Collyer,  of 
East  Cambridge. 

On  Business  —  Rev.  Dr.  Lorenzo  D.  Barrows,  of  San- 


ORGANIZATION.  13 

bornton  Bridge,  N.  IT. ;  Hon.  T.  L.  Tullock,  of  Portsmouth, 
N.  IT.;  Hon.  Thomas  Kniel,  of  Westfield;  Rev.  D.  B. 
McKenzie,  of  Waterbnry,  Vt. ;  Rev.  James  Pike,  of  Ports- 
mouth, N.  II.;  Win.  A.  Burnett,  of  Rutland,  Vt. ;  Rev.  Dr. 
S.  C.  Brown,  of  Warren,  R.  I.;  Rev.  Dr.  E.  Cooke,  of 
Wilbraham;  Rev.  H.  W.  Warren,  of  Cambridge;  Rev. 
Charles  Hunger,  of  Maine;  Franklin  Bend,  of  Roxbury; 
Rev.  Dr.  David  Patten,  of  Concord,  N.  H. 

On  Statistics  —  Revs.  Daniel  Dorchester,  of  the  New 
England  Conference  ;  S.  W.  Coggeshall,  of  the  Providence  ; 
Eleazer  Smith,  of  the  New  Hampshire  ;  A.  G.  Button,  of  the 
Vermont ;  E.  A.  Helmershauscn,  of  the  East  Maine  ;  and  A. 
Moore,  of  the  Maine. 

On  Finance  —  Liverus  Hull,  of  Charlestown  ;  F.  A. 
Clapp,  of  Worcester;  Lewis  H.  Taylor,  of  Springfield; 
Carlos  Pierce,  of  Boston;  L.  L.  Tower,  of  Cambridge;  T. 
P.  Richardson,  of  Lynn  ;  Wm.  B.  Lawton,  of  Warren,  R.  I. ; 
Horace  W.  Gilman,  of  Nashua,  N.  H. 

On  Credentials  —  Revs.  J.  S.  Barrows,  C.  C.  Mason, 
Geo.  Whitaker,  J.  G.  Cary,  and  Mr.  James  P.  Hagee. 

The  hours  of  meeting  were  fixed  as  follows  :  —  morning, 
nine  to  twelve ;  afternoon,  half-past  two  to  five  ;  evening, 
half-past  seven. 

Rev.  C.  L.  McCurdy,  of  the  New  England  Conference, 
moved  that  all  business  designed  to  be  introduced  for  the 
consideration  of  the  Convention  shall  be  committed  to  the 
Business  Committee,  to  be  reported  on  by  them  at  their 
option.     The  motion  prevailed. 

Rev.  C.  N.  Smith,  of  the  New  England  Conference,  also 
moved  a  resolution  that  the  time  for  reading  and  discuss- 
ing any  single  essay  be  limited  to  fifty  minutes.  This  mo- 
tion was  laid  on  the  table  in  order  to  enable  the  Conven- 
tion to  listen  to  an  Address  of  Welcome  to  the  delegates. 

In  view  of  the  crowded  state  of  the  church  at  this  first 
gathering  of  the  Convention,  Bro.  Franklin  Rand,  of  Rox- 
bury, moved  that  when  wo  adjourn  it  be  to  meet  this 


14  METHODIST   CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

afternoon,  and  for  the  remainder  of  the  session,  in  Tremont 
Temple  ;  and  the  motion  prevailed. 

Rev.  Wm.  McDonald,  the  pastor  of  Grace  Church,  now 
delivered  an  address  of  welcome  to  the  Convention,  as 
follows :  — 

Fathers  and  brethren,  representatives  of  Methodism  from 
the  hills,  valle}Ts,  and  sea-coasts,  from  the  cities,  towns,  and 
rural  districts  of  New  England,  from  the  forests  of  Maine, 
from  the  Green  Mountains  of  Vermont,  from  the  Granite  Hills 
of  New  Hampshire,  from  the  land  of  steady  habits,  from  the 
shores  of  the  Narragansett,  from  every  part  of  the  land  of  the 
Pilgrims,  in  behalf  of  the  Methodists  of  Boston  and  vicinity, 
I  welcome  3-011  to  this  our  glorious  metropolis. 

We  bid  3rou  a  most  hearty  welcome  to  our  homes  and  to  our 
Christian  hospitalities.  We  pray  that  this  may  be  pre-emi- 
nently a  family  gathering. 

In  behalf  of  the  trustees  and  members  of  this  church,  I  wel- 
come you  to  this  first  Free  Methodist  Church  in  Boston, — a 
free  church  dedicated  to  free  Grace.  We  will  not  conceal  the 
fact  that  we  feel  honored  in  having  the  privilege  of  opening  the 
doors  of  our  church  to  the  wisdom  and  piet}7  of  New  England 
Methodism.     We  esteem  it  no  burden,  but  a  favor. 

We  welcome  you  from  fields  which  bear  cheering  evidences 
of  your  unremitting  toil.  Your  victories  have  not  been  won 
but  at  the  expense  of  long  and  earnest  conflict.  Where  forests 
of  error,  of  ancient  and  rankest  growth,  yielded  to  the  "  axe 
laid  at  the  root  of  the  tree  "  by  the  fathers,  under  }rour  care  and 
culture,  green  fields  and  ripening  vineyards  give  promise  of  a 
rich  and  abundant  harvest.  Your  labors  have  resulted  in  the 
reconstruction  of  the  practical  theology  of  New  England. 
Even  the  prudential  and  providential  measures  employed  so 
successfully  by  the  fathers,  in  winning  souls  to  Christ,  and 
which  met  with  the  most  violent  opposition  from  the  evangel- 
ical churches  of  New  England,  are  now  successfully  emploj'ed 
by  these  same  churches,  in  this  central  city  of  Puritanism.  All 
honor  to  the  men  employed  by  God  for  the  accomplishment  of 
so  divine  a  work  ! 


EEV.    ME.    MACDOXALD'S    ADDRESS.  15 

Your  coming  is  unlike  the  coming  of  the  fathers.  No  one 
extended  to  them  a  hand  of  Christian  welcome.  They  came 
unbidden  and  unwelcomed,  seeking  the  souls  of  men,  and  the 
people  pra}*ed  them  to  depart  out  of  their  coasts. 

Had  it  been  told  the  indomitable  Lee,  as  he  stood  beneath  the 
bending  branches  of  the  venerable  elm  on  j'onder  Common,  that 
in  seventy-six  years  from  that  time  there  would  assemble,  a  lit- 
tle more  than  a  stone's  throw  from  that  spot,  a  convention  of 
preachers  and  laymen,  from  within  the  bounds  of  his  New  Eng- 
land circuit,  representing  six  Annual  Conferences,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  nearly  8G,000,  a  ministry  of  nearly  1,400,  a  Sunda}'- 
school  interest  embracing  925  schools,  114,300  scholars,  with  a 
corps  of  officers  and  teachers  about  13,000  strong  —  that  with- 
in the  limits  of  his  circuit  750  church  spires  would  be  pointing 
toward  heaven — that  there  would  be  one  first-class  college,  one 
theological  school,  six  seminaries,  and  two  religious  periodicals, 
all  in  the  interest  of  Methodism,  —  with  all  his  faith  in  God,  and 
hope  of  future  success,  the  intrepid  evangelist  would  have  ex^ 
claimed,  "  I  have  not  found  such  faith,  no,  not  in  Israel."  But 
these  are  the  objects  which  greet  us  as  we  cast  our  eyes  over 
the  field. 

Standing,  as  we  do  to-da}T,  at  the  close  of  our  first  century, 
and  comparing  the  past  with  the  present,  we  are  prepared  to 
exclaim,  "  What  hath  God  wrought ! " 

"  When  he  first  the  work  begun, 

Small  and  feeble  was  his  day ; 
Now  the  word  doth  swiftly  run, 

Now  it  wins  its  widening  way; 
More  and  more  it  spreads  and  grows, 

Ever  mighty  to  prevail, 
Sin's  strongholds  it  now  o'erthrows, 

Shakes  the  trembling  gates  of  hell." 

• 

"  It  looked  but  like  a  human  hand; 

Few  welcomed  it,  none  feared; 
But  as  it  opened  o'er  the  land, 

The  hand  of  God  appeared. 
God  gave  the  word,  and  great  has  been 

The  preachers'  company. 
What  wonders  have  our  fathers  seen, — 

What  signs  their  children  see  !  " 


16  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONTENTION. 

Let  us  devoutly  thank  God  that  the  opposers  and  early  de- 
famers  of  our  religion  have  not  realized  their  hopes. 

It  is  fitting  that  this  Convention  of  ministers  and  la}^men, 
the  first  known  to  American  Methodism,  should  assemble  on 
this  first  centennial  of  our  American  existence. 

We  are  called  upon  to  devise  new  plans  for  future  conquests, 
invoke  (if  need  be)  new  agencies  for  the  more  successful  prose- 
cution of  our  glorious  work,  and  give  evidence  to  all  that  we 
are  thirsting  to  enter  anew  the  great  arena  of  spiritual  conflict, 
and  battle  manfully  for  the  supremacy  of  our  Redeemer  on 
earth. 

A  new  era  in  our  American  history  dawns  upon  us.  New 
fields,  white  for  the  harvest,  invite  laborers.  Chains,  which 
have  been  forging  in  the  hottest  fires  of  hell,  for  ages,  have 
been  broken  in  a  day.  Fields,  which  have  long  felt  the  blight 
and  curse  of  oppression,  give  evidence  of  richness  and  verdure  ; 
while  millions  of  hearts,  bruised,  bleeding,  and  broken,  under 
burdens  intolerable,  stand  up  to  bless  God  for  their  deliver- 
ance, and  give  unmistakable  evidence  that  what  Law,  falsely 
so-called,  denominates  u  Chattels"  is  capable  of  exercising  the 
rights  of  freemen.  It  is  fitting,  in  view  of  these  facts,  that 
New  England  Methodism,  which  has  always  been  the  vanguard 
in  this  grand  march  of  human  freedom,  should  assemble,  shake 
hands,  and  shout  lustily  over  these  God-given  triumphs. 

We  do  not  meet  for  the  purpose  of  reaffirming  our  ancient 
theological  creed.  We  do  not  propose  to  assemble  around  the 
old  elm  on  yonder  Common,  the  landing-place  of  our  "  Pilgrim 
Father"  —  Jesse  Lee,  —  and  there  declare  that  we  still  believe 
in  "  free  grace,"  "  free  will,"  and  "  full  salvation."  Thank 
God,  Methodism  has  never  wandered  from  the  "  ancient  land- 
marks "  of  the  fathers.  She  has  never  quarreled  over  her  the- 
ology. The  experience  and  changes  of  a  hundred  jTears  have 
confirmed  her  more  and  more  that  her  theology  is  of  God. 

We  are  not  met  to  attack  and  demolish  our  church  economy. 
Whatever  ma}'  have  been  the  fears  entertained,  and  the  insin- 
uations expressed  in  some  quarters,  with  regard  to  the  radical- 
ism of  New  England  and  the  probable  results  of  this  Conven- 
tion, I  think  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  New  England  Methodism 


REV.    MB.    MACDOXALD'S   ADDRESS.  17 

is  loyal  to  the  core.  And  to  this  sentiment  I  have  no  doubt 
there  will  be  found  an  affirmative  response  from  this  Convention 
of  intelligent  ministers  and  laymen. 

We  pledge  ourselves  to  stand  by  the  old  ship  as  it  is, 
until  Providence  indicates,' unmistakably,  that  a  change  is  de- 
manded ;  and  then  we  hope  New  England  Methodism  will  not 
be  so  wedded  to  mere  prudential  arrangements  as  not  to  favor 
such  change. 

But  this  Convention  has  no  such  object  in  view.  We  meet 
that  we  may  exchange  Christian  salutations,  and  become  better 
acquainted  with  each  other.  Our  work  has  been  so  cut  up,  and 
there  has  been  so  little  intercommunication  among  us,  that  the 
old  connectional  spirit  has  been  dying  out  in  our  Church  for 
j-ears.  It  was  thought  that  a  meeting  of  ministers  and  laymen, 
for  the  purpose  of  reviving  the  spirit  of  other  days,  would  be 
of  incalculable  advantage  to  our  Zion. 

The  question  has  been  repeatedly  asked,  "What  is  the  ob- 
ject of  the  Convention?"  We  answer,  the  first  and  prime 
object  is  to  revive  and  strengthen  the  old  connectional  bonds 
of  Methodism.  All  else  is  subordinate.  It  is  not  for  division, 
but  harmoiry.  It  is  not  to  widen,  but  lessen  breaches.  It  is 
that  all  may  see  that  we  are,  as  a  Church,  in  practice  what  we 
are  in  theory,  —  a  unit.  "It  is  peculiarly  fitting  "  that  such  a 
Convention  should  assemble  in  Boston,  the  "Athens  of  Amer- 
ica," the  "  hub  of  the  universe,"  around  which  revolves  John 
Wesley's  parish.  It  was  here  that  the  apostle  and  founder  of 
New  England  Methodism  opened  his  message  of  life  to  a  fam- 
ishing people,  and  here,  too,  one  of  the  Wesleys  proclaimed 
the  gospel  according  to  the  law. 

This  Convention,  like  most  other  good  things,  is  a  New  Eng- 
land idea  (I  will  not  say  a  Boston  notion),  to  be  imitated,  I 
have  no  doubt,  b}^  every  section  of  our  broad  Methodism. 

Our  action  will  be  watched  with  much  interest,  and  criticised 
with  unsparing  freedom ;  }*et,  I  trust,  it  will  be  such  action  as 
shall  commend  itself  to  the  intelligent  religious  convictions  of 
our  broad  Methodism. 

Brethren  from  abroad,  representative  men  in  our  American 
Methodism,  in  behalf  of   this   Convention  of   New   England 


18  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

Methodists,  I  extend  to  3*011  a  most  cordial  Christian  greeting, 
a  hearty  New  England  welcome.  We  are  as  glad  to  see  you  as 
Yankees  can  be.  We  trust  that  when  you  shall  have  met  face 
to  face,  and  communed  for  a  few  claj^s  with  some  of  the  most 
intelligent  representatives  of  New  England  Methodism,  you 
will  be  able  to  report  in  the  different  sections  from  which  jtou 
come,  —  in  the  Empire  State,  on  tl\e  broad  prairies  of  the  West, 
and  even  in  Her  Majesty's  dominions,  —  yea,  everywhere,  that 
New  England  Methodism  has  a  heart  as  well  as  a  head  ;  that 
she  is  warm  as  well  as  sharp  ;  that  she  has  love  for  God  as 
well  as  for  money ;  that  she  can  win  souls  as  successfully  as 
she  can  get  rich. 

Allow  me,  finalty,  to  express  the  hope  that  this  occasion  may 
be  remembered  as  a  green  spot  in  our  pilgrimage,  marking  a 
new  era  in  our  religious  history. 

After  the  benediction  from  Rev.  A.  D.  Merrill,  of  the 
New  England  Conference,  the  Convention  adjourned,  to 
meet  at  Tremont  Temple,  at  half-past  2  p.  m. 


AFTERNOON   OF  FIRST   DAY. 

Agreeably  to  adjournment,  the  Convention  reassembled 
at  half-past  two  o'clock  p.  M.,  in  the  spacious  Tremont 
Temple,  the  President  in  the  chair,  who  requested  the 
audience  to  join  in  singing  the  1st  hymn  of  our  collection, 
and  to  unite  with  Rev.  Dr.  Cummings,  of  the  New  England 
Conference,  in  prayer. 

Rev.  Dr.  Barrows,  from  the  Business  Committee,  moved 
that  all  Methodist  laymen  and  ministers  present,  and  re- 
siding out  of  the  bounds  of  the  six  New  England  Confer- 
ences, be  invited  to  take  seats  in  the  Convention  as  corre- 
sponding members,  and  participate  in  our  deliberations. 
The  motion  prevailed. 

The  same  Committee,  through  Dr.  Barrows,  also  recom-. 


in:v.  DR.   WEBBER'S  essay.  19 

mended  that  the  order  of  essays  agreed  upon  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements  for  the  Convention  be  observed 
by  us,  which  was  agreed  to,  as  was  also  the  suggestion  of 
the  same  Committee,  that  the  essay  assigned  to  Dr.  Cum- 
mings,  on  the  Endowment  of  our  Literary  Institutions,  be 
made  the  order  of  the  day  for  this  evening. 

The  President  called  up  the  resolution  that  was  laid  on 
the  table  at  the  close  of  the  morning  session,  which  pro- 
posed limiting  the  time  allotted  to  the  hearing  and  discus- 
sion of  essays  to  fifty  minutes,  which  was,  on  motion, 
adopted. 

Rev.  R.  W.  Allen,  of  the  New  England  Conference, 
offered  a  resolution  limiting  speeches  to  five  minutes,  in  no 
case  exceeding  ten  minutes,  except  by  vote  of  the  Conven- 
tion ;  and  also  that  no  one  be  allowed  to  speak  twice  on 
the  same  topic,  till  all  who  desire  to  do  so  have  spoken. 
The  resolution  prevailed. 

Rev.  George  Webber,  D.  D.,  of  Maine,  read  the  first 
essay,  which  was  as  follows :  — 

Mr.  President  and  Brethren  of  the  Convention,  —  It  is 
matter  of  mutual  congratulation  in  meeting  here  at  this  time, 
after  our  Methodism  has  had  its  trial  of  one  hundred  years  on 
American  soil,  to  prove  its  adaptedness  to  Republican  ideas 
and  institutions,  and  its  wonderful  efficiency  in  promoting  the 
great  objects  of  Christianity  in  the  land,  that  we  are  not  called 
upon  to  offer  any  apology  for  its  introduction,  or  any  argument 
for  the  validity  of  its  claims  to  be  regarded  as  among  the  great 
moral  and  spiritual  forces  in  the  nation.  Nor  has  the  indefi- 
niteness  or  evasiveness  of  its  utterances  heretofore,  in  its  pul- 
pits or  elsewhere,  rendered  it  necessary  that  we  should  endorse 
anew,  or  in  any  express  and  formal  manner  reaffirm,  the  doc- 
trinal decisions  and  declarations  of  former  synods,  platforms, 
or  confessions  of  faith. 

No  evasive  or  ambiguous  statements  of  doctrines,  or  Babel- 
like confusion  of  tongues  among  us,  has  left  the  people  attend- 
ing on  the  ministrations  of  Methodism  in  any  doubt  as  to  the 


20  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

identity  of  the  Methodism  of  to-day  with  that  taught  b}'  our 
fathers  ;  nor  in  opposition  to  any  who,  because  of  our  refusing  to 
accept  the  peculiar  dogmas  of  Augustine  and  Calvin,  may  refuse 
to  accord  to  us  a  position  of  "  respectability"  among  the  Chris- 
tian denominations,  will  we  make  any  further  reply  than  to 
point  them  to  the  triumphant  success  of  Arminianism,  and  the 
glorious  results  it  has  achieved  in  spreading  scriptural  holiness 
over  these  lands,  on  many  a  warmly-contested  field  of  polemic 
strife,  where  it  has  been  left  confessedly  the  master  of  the  sit- 
uation. 

To  seek  for  the  old  paths,  and  to  contend  earnestly  for  the 
faith  which  was  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  is  the  appropriate 
work  of  all  true  Christians,  and  especially  of  all  true  Meth- 
odists. 

The  voice  that  has  called  us  together  in  a  Convention  of 
New  England  Methodists  is  not  the  voice  of  faction  or  dis- 
cord ;  nor  are  we  here  assembled  for  any  purpose  foreign  to  the 
interests  of  the  whole  Church.  Methodism  is  one,  and  its  in- 
terests one,  throughout  the  land.  Matters,  however,  may  arise 
of  a  sectional  or  circumstantial  character,  requiring  readjust- 
ments and  varied  applications  of  old  principles,  in  order,  in  the 
different  condition  of  things,  to  secure  more  vigorous  and  effec- 
tive operations.  To  inquire  whether  this  is  not  at  present  to 
some  extent  the  case  with  us  as  Methodists  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  if  so,  to  seek  after  the  appropriate  remedies,  are 
among  the  motives  that  led  to  the  call  and  assembling  of  this 
Convention  of  Methodist  ministers  and  la3'men,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  mutual  and  general  consultation  and  advisement. 

The  Provisional  Committee,  appointed  to  make  the  needful 
arrangements  for  the  business  of  the  Convention,  in  order  to 
give  its  deliberations  and  discussions  a  more  definite  form, 
have  assigned  several  topics  to  be  brought  before  us.  The  first 
in  the  series  is  in  the  following  words  :  — 

"  The  importance  of  more  systematic  efforts  to  strengthen 
the  weak  places  in  our  Zion,  and  to  extend  the  gospel  into  new 
fields  among  us.  Would  not  a  return  to  the  circuit  system  in 
some  portions  of  the  work,  be  beneficial  both  to  the  temporal 
and  spiritual  interest  of  the  Church  ? " 


rev.  dr.  Webber's  essay.  21 

IMy  own  personal  acquaintance  with  the  condition  of  tilings 
in  New  England,  referred  to  here,  is  mostly  limited  to  Maine 
and  to  my  own  (the  Maine)  Conference. 

Taking  this  as  a  sample  of  New  England,  which  perhaps 
would  be  hardly  proper,  the  term  "  weak  places  in  our  Zion  " 
is  a  term  of  no  feeble  significance,  either  as  regards  numbers, 
influence,  or  pecuniary  resources,  as  a  reference  to  our  Confer- 
ence statistics  will,  in  part  at  least,  clearly  show.  From  the 
Minutes  of  1865,  the  latest  published,  it  appears  that  of  one 
hundred  and  two  charges,  forty  had  less  than  one  hundred  mem- 
bers each,  including  probationers  ;  thirt}T  had  less  than  seventy- 
five  each,  and  fourteen  less  than  fifty^  each.  As  this  showing, 
however,  does  not  necessarily  determine  the  pecuniary  strength, 
we  will  look  at  this  a  little  more  directly. 

Of  the  number  of  charges  in  the  Conference  for  the  same 
year,  reports  were  received  from  eighty-two.  The  average 
paid  the  preachers  on  these  charges  was  £493 ^r,-  But  of 
these,  twenty-two  paid  four  hundred  or  less,  and  eight  less  than 
three  hundred.  Beside  these,  there  were  twenty  charges  from 
which  no  report  appears,  but  which,  if  reported,  would  in  no 
respect  present  a  more  favorable  view,  being  mostly  those  left 
to  be  supplied.  It  should  also  be  understood  that  these 
amounts  include  all  moneys  paid  for  rent  of  houses,  moving 
expenses,  and,  in  not  a  few  instances,  the  keeping  of  a  horse, 
with  all  the  incidental  expenses  of  shoeing,  repair  of  carriages, 
harnesses,  etc.  Nor  is  the  whole  story  told  here.  There  are 
large  tracts  of  country  in  the  interior  and  frontier  portions  of 
our  Conference  and  State  wrhere  the  population  is  sparse,  and 
where  there  are  scattered  over  large  territory  members,  and 
worthy  members,  of  our  Church,  enjoying  almost  no  public 
means  of  grace,  not  even  those  occasional  services  of  a  Chris- 
tian ministry  of  their  own  denomination,  or  of  any  other  (ex- 
cept obtained  at  great  inconvenience),  often  rendered  so  indis- 
pensable in  cases  of  sickness,  affliction,  and  death,  while  the 
people  in  general  are  left  almost  without  the  Sabbath,  or  any 
other  institutions  or  instrumentalities  so  needful  not  only  to 
their  proper  moral  culture,  but  also  to  prevent  their  verging 
to  the  condition  of  heathenism. 


22  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

The  answer  to  the  question.  Why  are  these  things  so?  will 
be  found  by  referring  to  facts  in  the  condition  of  society  in . 
those  regions ;  partly  on  account  of  their  divided  religious 
opinions,  preventing  harmony  of  action  in  supporting  the  gos- 
pel, and  partly  for  want  of  enterprise  and  pecuniary  ability, 
resulting  from  the  tendency  everywhere  seen  of  wealth  and  en- 
terprise to  seek  positions  of  more  profitable  investment  and 
effort ;  and  partly  from  the  fact  that  in  many  localities  the 
people  have  been  so  long  used  to  this  order  of  things  that  they, 
in  many  instances,  have  little  desire  for  any  thing  different.  To 
this  should  be  added  also  the  deadly  influence  of  political  hate 
and  rancor,  in  some  instances  resulting  in  closing  the  churches 
against  the  ministry,  and,  in  others,  a  refusal  either  to  support 
or  hear  them.  The  foregoing  statements  will,  so  far  as  Maine 
is  concerned  as  a  part  of  New  England,  justify  the  use  by  the 
Committee  of  the  term  "the  weak  places  in  our  Zion."  How 
far  the  picture  holds  true  in  regard  to  other  portions  of  New 
England,  those  better  acquainted  must  judge.  In  addition  to 
the  above,  it  should  also  be  noted  that  in  the  more  populous 
portions  of  all  New  England  there  are  constantly  gathering 
into  and  around  our  business  centres  populations  and  com- 
munities to  be  supplied  with  gospel  ministrations  and  the 
institutions  of  Christianity,  for  which  it  is  our  duty  in  common 
with  other  churches  to  provide.  In  most  cases,  in  the  infancy 
of  such  communities  at  least,  there  is  not  sufficient  pecuniary 
strength  in  any  one  denomination  at  once  to  establish  and 
maintain  gospel  ministrations  without  foreign  aid.  On  these 
localities  especially,  the  ever-vigilant  eyes  of  our  sister  churches 
are  constantly  set,  and  unless  we,  as  Methodists,  show  also  a 
becoming  vigilance  and  activity,  we  shall  in  many  places  we 
now  occupy  be  entirely  supplanted,  and  in  others  be  hindered 
for  years  from  taking  the  position  which  properly  belongs  to 
us,  and  to  which,  by  timely  and  appropriate  effort,  we  might 
easily  attain. 

It  often  occurs  that  where  there  are  societies  or  churches  in 
the  same  community  of  different  denominations,  and  one  is 
Methodist,  and  where  both  are  in  a  pecuniary  respect  nearly 
equal,  such  other  church,  in  addition  to  their  own  resources, 


BEV.  dr.  "Webber's  essay.  23 

receive  from  one  to  three  hundred  dollars  from  foreign  sources, 
for  the  support  of  a  minister,  while  our  ministers,  as  needy  and 
as  worthy,  receive  no  such  aid  at  all. 

It  is  confidently  believed  that  in  this  way  not  less  than  seven 
thousand  dollars  were  expended  the  last  year,  by  one  single 
denomination,  within  the  limits  of  the  Maine  Conference,  while 
among  us  the  sum  expended  was  less  than  sixteen  hundred. 
The  great  disadvantage,  in  comparison  with  some  others,  in 
which  we  are  thus  placed,  cannot  fail  to  be  apparent  to  even- 
considerate  mind. 

One  more  remark  in  this  connection.  In  all  our  cities  there 
is  a  numerous  population  who  seldom  or  never  attend  religious 
worship.  In  some  cases,  no  doubt,  this  is  the  result  of  entire 
religions  indifference,  and  chargeable  to  nothing  else  ;  while,  in 
not  a  few  others,  it  is  entirety  the  result  of  other  causes. 

In  many  of  the  cfty  churches,  the  cost  of  seats  for  his  family 
is  absolutely  more  than  the  poor  man  is  able  to  pay  ;  and  then 
the  gay  and  fashionable  and  costly  style  of  clothing,  worn  gen- 
erally at  such  churches,  forbids  the  poor  man,  in  his  mean  and 
homely  attire,  to  enter  such  churches,  without  a  sense  of  degra- 
dation which  few  will  or  ought  to  bear.  The  result  is  as  we 
see  ;  but  where  the  chief  responsibility  lies,  we  ma}r  not  be  as 
ready  to  admit.  That  there  is  a  responsibility  somewhere,  and 
a  fearful  one,  admits  not  of  a  .doubt. 

It  is  among  the  most  pregnant  sayings  of  the  great  Master, 
and  one  illustrating  as  fully  as  any  other  the  true  spirit  of  our 
hoi}' religion,  "The  poor  have  the  gospel  preached  to  them." 
These  statements,  and  the  conclusions  necessarily  to  be  drawn 
from  them,  afford  an  answer,  at  least  in  one  respect,  to  the 
question,  "How  shall  we  strengthen  the  weak  places  in  our 
Zion?"  The  answer  is,  "Let  the  strong  bear  the  infirmities 
of  the  weak."  The  more  wealthy  members  and  communities 
must  be  more  largely  drawn  upon,  to  aid  in  this  matter.  In 
what  way  this  can  be  most  effectively  done,  there  may  be  large 
difference  of  opinion.  Several  propositions  may  be  taken  un- 
der consideration. 

One  is,  to  organize  a  New  England  Home  Missionaiy  Society, 
with  auxiliaries  in  each  of  the  Conferences  for  joint  co-opera- 


24  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

tion ;  another,  to  establish  Home  Missionary  Societies  in  each 
of  the  Conferences,  with  auxiliaries  in  all  the  charges,  to  act 
independently  within  its  own  borders ;  another  yet,  to  urge 
upon  the  General  Missionary  Committee,  and  Board  at  New 
York  a  more  liberal  distribution,  especially  to  the  feebler  and 
more  needy  Conferences  and  in  some  cases,  a  sum  not  less  than 
the  amount  contributed  by  said  Conference  to  the  general  fund. 
Or,  if  neither  of  these  should  be  deemed  feasible  and  accep- 
table, then  by  giving  a  greater  prominence  to  our  "  Preachers* 
Aid  Societies,"  before  our  people,  make  them  to  our  preachers 
a  more  effectual  aid. 

There  is,  at  least,  one  point  more  of  grave  importance  to  be 
considered.  It  is  this  :  a  more  adequate  supply  of  ministers. 
Were  our  resources  in  other  respects  equal  to  all  demands,  the 
weighty  question  would  still  press  upon  us,  "  How  shall  they 
hear  without  a  preacher  ?  "  A  reference  to  the  Minutes  of  the 
New  England  Conferences  will  show  an  alarming  and  constant- 
ly increasing  deficiency  in  the  relation  of  demand  and  supply. 
To  ascertain  the  causes  that  have  produced  this  state  of  things, 
might  perhaps  suggest  the  remedy.  While  we  maintain  the 
doctrine  that  no  man  is  made  a  true  and  legitimate  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ  but  by  divine  designation,  and  admit  that  Christ, 
as  the  Great  Shepherd  of  his  flock  and  the  Merciful  Savior  of 
mankind,  can  never  be  regardless  of  the  necessities  of  his 
creatures  whom  he  came  to  save,  and  that  a  living  ministry  is, 
in  his  economy,  an  indispensable  necessity  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  ends  of  his  mediatorial  work  among  men,  it 
must,  then,  follow  that  he  will  ever  make  appropriate  and  am- 
ple provision  for  all  the  spiritual  wants  of  his  creatures. 

The  evil,  then,  does  not  lie  here,  but  must  be  sought  for  else- 
where. The  call  of  God  is  upon  hearts  enough  to-day  for  all 
present  demands  for  a  gospel  ministry  for  the  whole  world. 
What,  then,  is  the  cause  of  the  sad  deficiency  ?  Can  it  be  sup- 
posed that  men  who  profess  to  be  the  followers  of  him,  who 
though  he  was  rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  became  poor,  who  are  the 
successors  of  those  who  took  joyfully  the  spoiling  of  their 
goods,  and  counted  not  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves, — can  it 
be  supposed  that  such  permit  the  unpromising  pecuniary  aspect 


rev.  dr.  Webber's  essay.  25 

of  the  case  to  lead  them  to  disregard  the  voice  divine  within 
them?     I  will  not  decide  the  question.     To  their  own  Master 

they  stand  or  fall.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  here,  also,  in  too 
many  cases,  there  is  too  much  faith  in  Gold,  as  compared  with 
faith  in  Cod. 

This  however,  I  apprehend,  does  not  in  every  case  afford  the 
true  solution.  How  far  the  want  of  religious  vitality  in  the 
Church  may  contribute  to  this  result,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to 
inquire.  It  is  hardly  good  philosophy  to  expect  that  the  young 
men  in  the  Church  will  be  much  in  advance,  in  the  degree  of 
their  piety  and  religious  devotion,  of  the  older  members  ;  while, 
then,  Zion  is  generally  at  ease,  what  are  the  influences  around 
our  young  men,  to  stimulate  their  zeal  and  inspire  their  moral 
heroism  to  the  degree  needful  to  enable  them  to  overcome  their 
diffidence  and  remaining  love  of  the  world,  or  to  break  away 
from  those  associations  that  beget  and  foster  such  strong  local 
attachments  ;  or  more  still,  to  awaken  in  them  the  needful  spir- 
itual ardor  to  enable  them  to  brave  the  trials,  submit  to  the 
toils,  bear  the  reproaches,  and  endure  the  "  hardness  "  neces- 
sary to  "a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ"?  Is  the  charge 
against  the  ancient  Israel  true  in  respect  to  Israel  of  to-day  ? 
"  The  children  are  come  to  the  birth,  and  there  is  not  strength 
to  bring  forth  !  " 

One  further  suggestion  I  will  venture  on  this  topic.  It  does 
not  admit  of  a  doubt,  as  the  Christian  ministry  is  an  ordinance 
of  God,  and  each  minister  in  particular  is  divinely  designated 
to  this  work,  that  the  prerequisite  qualifications,  as  well  as  the 
time  most  proper  to  enter  upon  his  work,  should  be  left  to  di- 
vine appointment  and  designation.  It  must  necessarily  result 
that  the  policy  in  regard  to  this  matter  that  most  nearly  ac- 
cords with  his  must  more  surety  meet  his  approval  and  insure 
the  best  success. 

Has  he  revealed  this  policy,  especially  as  it  regards  ministe- 
rial qualifications,  prior  to  entering  upon  the  work  of  the 
Christian  ministry?  If  so,  what  is  it?  Was  an  education  re- 
garded by  him  as  a  sine  qua  non  to  this  office  ?  or  did  he  call  an 
Amos,  who  was  neither  a  "prophet  nor  a  prophet's  son,"  as 
well  as  an  Isaiah,  to  be  a  prophet  of  his  people?  Did  he  select 
3 


26  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONTENTION. 

a  John,  a  Peter,  and  a  James,  and  place  them  among  his  apos- 
tles, as  well  as  a  Paul?  Let  us  hear  his  own  declarations: 
"  For  you  see  jTour  calling,  brethren,  how  that  not  many  wise 
men  after  the  flesh,  not  many  mighty,  not  many  noble  are 
called ;  but  God  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world 
to  confound  the  wise,  and  God  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of 
the  world  to  confound  the  things  that  are  mighty,  and  base 
things  of  the  world,  and  things  that  are  despised  hath  God 
chosen,  yea,  and  things  that  are  not  to  bring  to  naught  things 
that  are,  that  no  flesh  should  glory  in  his  presence."  "  The  fool- 
ishness of  God  is  wiser  than  men,  and  the  weakness  of  God  is 
stronger  than  men."  It  is  pertinent  to  inquire  how  far  our 
policy  as  a  Church  accords  with  God's,  or  has  he  changed  his 
policy  since  the  above  declarations  were  made  ?  Where  is  the 
limiting  or  restricting  clause,  confining  it  to  any  one  age  of 
the  Church?  And  do  not  the  reasons  assigned  apply  with 
equal  force  and  propriety  to  the  present  as  to  the  past  ?  And 
if  the  same  reasons  exist,  and  in  all  their  fulness  and  force, 
then  may  we  emphatically  inquire,  Why  should  not  the  same 
policy  continue  ?  Has  not  God  vindicated  this  policy  as  well 
in  modern  as  in  ancient  times  ?  Let  the  history  of  Methodism 
testify. 

True,  there  has  been  no  time  in  the  history  of  the  past  when 
we  have  not  had  educated  men  among  us,  adequate  in  both 
numbers  and  ability  to  the  absolute  wants  of  the  age ;  nor, 
while  his  policy  is  duly  respected,  will  God  ever  fail  to  call, 
from  time  to  time,  either  from  the  feet  of  Gamaliel,  or  from  the 
fishing  nets  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  as  the  needs  of  his  work  may 
require,  a  learned  Saul,  or  a  less  literate  Cephas.  I  would  by 
no  means  be  understood  as  depreciating  the  importance  of  edu- 
cation in  the  ministry,  or  as  inculcating  an  indifference  to  men- 
tal culture  in  those  now  in  the  work,  or  about  to  enter  it ;  but 
I  would  insist  that  all  of  this  be  held  in  entire  subordination 
to  the  call  of  God,  and  the  directing  finger  of  his  providence. 
In  full  view  of  all  our  responsibilities  to  the  present  as  well  as 
the  future  generations  ;  in  full  view  of  the  history  of  our  past 
success,  and  of  God's  own  avowed  policy,  let  us  examine  our 
present  position  on  this  great  question,  seeking  divine  aid  and 
guidance  for  the  future. 


REV.    DR.    WEBBEB'S   ESSAY,  27 

In  closing  the  discussion  on  this  topic,  I  would  suggest  the 
inquiry.  How  far  our  Theological  Seminaries,  increased  in 
numbers  and  eificienc}'  as  much  as  we  may  reasonably  hope  to 
see  them  for  twenty  years  to  come,  will  be  able  to  supply  a 
ministry  to  the  Church  ?  Can  we  reasonably  hope  for  any- 
thing more  than  barely  a  supply  for  the  yearly  wastes  of  the 
Conferences,  keeping  them  up  to  their  present  number,  afford- 
ing little  additional  for  either  the  increase  of  the  home  or 
foreign  work?  I  must  confess  that,  looking  in  that  direction, 
the  prospect  is  not  very  hopeful. 

One  topic  more  remains  to  be  discussed  :  Whether  a  return 
to  the  circuit  system  would  not  in  some  localities  be  beneficial 
both  to  the  temporal  and  spiritual  interests  of  the  Church? 
Probably  there  is  a  larger  proportion  of  circuits  in  Maine 
than  in  most  other  portions  of  the  work  in  New  England.  We 
have  enough  of  each  class  at  least  to  afford  a  basis  of  compar- 
ison. The  abandonment  of  the  circuit  S}'stem,  so  far  as  it  has 
gone,  was  at  the  demand  of  the  people,  rather  than  the  work  of 
the  preachers  ;  and  the  same  causes  that  operated  then  to 
bring  about  the  change  still  continue  in  all  their  force.  These 
causes  were  the  laudable  desire  to  enjoy  the  constant  means  of 
grace  on  the  Sabbath,  at  distances  convenient  for  the  attend- 
ance of  their  families,  and  also  its  supposed  necessity,  in 
order  to  the  maintenance  of  the  Sabbath-schools  in  effective 
operation.  It  not  unfrequently  also  became  a  necessity,  in 
order  to  preserve  worship  at  all,  and  even  frequently,  to  main- 
tain our  Church  organizations,  especially  in  those  localities 
where  religious  services  were  constantly  held  by  some  other 
denomination.  In  such  cases,  a  disintegration  would  constant- 
ly be  going  on,  resulting  soon  in  the  entire  loss  of  our  position- 
There  are  cases,  nevertheless,  where  a  return  to  the  former- 
order  would  no  doubt  be  beneficial.  It  is,  however,  doubtful 
whether  it  is  now  practicable  to  effect  the  change.  It  may, 
notwithstanding,  be  desirable  to  call  the  attention  of  our  people 
to  it,  in  those  localities  where  it  appears  feasible,  as  a  needful 
measure  both  to  give  to  feeble  societies  some  Gospel  means, 
who  otherwise  must  remain  nearly  destitute,  and  also,  in  many 
cases,  to  afford  a  preacher  a  more  adequate  support. 


28  METHODIST   CENTEX  ART   CONVENTION. 

The  discussion  on  this  essay  was  opened  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Monroe,  of  New  Jersey :  —  Dr.  Barrows  wishes  me  to  re- 
mark upon  a  single  point  in  the  essay,  as  to  the  question 
of  furnishing  aid  to  the  weak  places  in  the  support  of  the 
ministry.  Dr.  Webber  suggested  several  courses,  —  (1.) 
The  organization  of  a  New  England  Home  Missionary  So- 
ciety; (2.)  The  organization  of  a  Missionary  Society  in 
each  of  the  Conferences ;  and  (3.)  The  increase  of  the  ap- 
propriations of  the  General  Missionary  Society  to  the  Con- 
ferences for  this  purpose. 

Perhaps  it  is  due  to  the  General  Missionary  Society  to 
say  that  it  inaugurated  a  movement  in  its  last  annual  meet- 
ing, increasing  very  largely  its  appropriations  to  the  Con- 
ferences. It  took  up  an  order  in  its  appropriations  to  Mis- 
sions, as  it  has  never  done  before.  That  order  was,  Do- 
mestic Missions  as  the  first  point  to  be  considered,  and  the 
wants  of  the  several  Conferences  as  the  first  demand,  before 
considering  any  part  of  the  foreign  work.  While  the  last 
year,  it  may  be,  only  $1,600  was  expended  in  the  Maine  Con- 
ference, now  about  $1,000  more  are  appropriated  to  the 
same  work.  And  just  so  far  as  the  Missionary  Board  can 
go,  so  as  to  take  care  not  to  cultivate  a  spirit  of  dependence 
upon  the  Missionary  appropriations,  just  so  far  are  they  dis- 
posed to  go,  and  just  so  far  will  it  be  for  the  advantage  of 
the  churches.  And  you  will  find  that  from  year  to  year  they 
are  increasing  the  appropriations  according  to  your  need. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Willett,  of  the  Providence  Conference :  — 
It  seems  to  me,  sir,  that  the  question  as  to  the  propriety  or 
feasibility  of  returning  to  the  circuit  system  is  one  too 
largely  important  to  be  passed  by  without  a  word. 

Now,  sir,  it  is  said  by  the  essayist,  and  proved  beyond 
question,  that  the  people  will  not  submit  to  this  circuit  sys- 
tem. Now,  sir,  it  might  be  a  question,  it  seems  to  me, 
whether  it  is  worth  while  to  gratify  the  spirit  that  demands 
and  seeks  to  maintain  these  small  charges.  If  the  people 
on  those  charges  were  practical  Methodists,  though  there 


DISCUSSION   OF   DR.    WEBBER'S    ESSAY.  29 

be  other  churches  maintaining  services  all  day,  they  would 
much  prefer  one  half  of  the  services  and  usages  of  their 
own  Church.  And  if  it  be  true  simply  that  they  will  not, 
it  is  worth  while  to  argue  the  question  whether  the  ser- 
vices of  one  half-day  are  not  worth  more  than  the  services 
obtained  under  the  present  system.  The  preachers  cannot 
be  worth  that  to  the  Church  that  they  would  be  if  they 
worked  one  half  of  the  day.  Is  it  worth  while  to  destroy 
our  ministers  when  they  are  so  scarce?  I  apprehend  fur- 
ther—  in  justice  to  the  membership  let  me  say  it  —  that 
they  will  not  demand  it  among  the  laity,  save  a  few  here  and 
there  in  these  churches.  The  great  portion  of  the  mem- 
bers in  these  small  charges  will  be  willing  to  fall  in  with 
this  arrangement. 

Unfortunately,  the  few  who  oppose  it  are  very  much  like 
the  man  a  minister  once  had  in  his  Sabbath-school  class,  who 
was  constantly  asking  about  Paul's  "  thorn  in  the  flesh," 
and  assailed  him  with  the  question,  "  What  do  you  think 
of  it?"  "Well,  I  have  sometimes  thought,"  said  the 
preacher,  "that  it  might  be  an  ungodly  church-member, 
whom  you  could  not  turn  out  of  the  Church,  nor  get  him 
converted."  Let  it  be  understood  that  every  demand  for 
the  ruin  of  the  men  is  not  to  be  for  a  moment  heeded. 

Rev.  J.  Thurston,  of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference :  — 
I  am  very  unwilling  that  this  matter  of  circuits  shall  have 
the  go-by  here.  I  simply  want  to  set  somebody  talking. 
This  matter  of  returning  to  the  circuit  s)rstem  is  a  vital 
question  with  us.  It  would  be  a  marvelous  thing  if  a 
New  England  Methodist  Convention  should  finish  up  its 
work  and  have  hit  upon  nothing  to  say  about  returning  to 
the  circuit  system.  That  is  a  Methodist  word,  —  circuit, 
—  and  some  of  the  old  folks  upon  the  hills  have  not 
learned  yet  to  speak  the  word  station.  These  lay  dele- 
gates, I  am  glad  to  see  them.  I  was  a  layman  once,  and 
I  guess  it  would  have  been  as  well  if  I  had  always  con- 
tinued to  be  such.       [Laughter.]     I  have  got  that  off,  and 


30        METHODIST  CENTENARY  CONVENTION. 

no  matter  if  I  have.  [Laughter.]  I  want  some  of  these 
wise  men  to  speak.  They  think  they  cannot  sustain  them- 
selves, if  they  go  back  to  the  circuit  system. 

Dr.  Webber  has  certainly  given  us  some  wise  counsels, 
but  I  want  the  thing  discussed.  I  want  them  to  hear  it, 
and  with  a  force  I  have  not  been  able  to  give  it.  I  am  not 
willing  that  this  subject  should  have  the  go-by.  We  must 
work  the  old  circuit  system,  and  set  the  whole  country  on 
fire,  until  the  light  of  life  and  light  shall  go  all  over  the 
hills  and  mountains,  and  through  the  valleys,  and  Method- 
ism shall  triumph  throughout  the  land.  We  want  the  cir- 
cuit system  as  we  had  it  in  the  former  days.  Now  we 
are  going  back  by  cutting  up  the  villages,  etc.,  until  they 
want  the  circuit  system. 

3Ir.JoJm  Blackmer,  oftheN.E.  Conference: — The  brother 
from  New  Hampshire  said  that  he  wished  to  hear  from 
some  of  the  lay  delegates,  and  to  know  how  they  re- 
garded the  question. 

You  are  aware,  sir,  that  in  the  early  days  of  Methodism, 
one  of  the  excellences  that  we  attributed  to  the  circuit 
system  was,  the  variety  of  gifts  the  people  were  permitted 
to  enjoy  by  having  circuits,  and  one  following  another 
around ;  so  that  one  would  not  hear  the  same  man  oftener 
than  once  in  three  or  four  weeks.  But  when  the  station- 
ing system  was  introduced  among  us,  there  was  more 
complaint.  We  had  been  accustomed  to  hear  men  of  dif- 
ferent gifts ;  we  wanted  a  variety,  for  the  man  who  would 
have  an  influence  upon  one  class  would  be  powerless  upon 
another.  By  having  the  circuit  system  here,  with  a  diver- 
sity of  gifts,  the  ministry  was  more  effective  and  accom- 
plished more. 

It  is  a  fact  that  there  are  many  places  in  our  New  Eng- 
land Conferences  which  are  so  weak  that  they  hardly  give 
a  young  man  support.  They  have  to  resort  to  shifts  and 
expedients  to  gain  a  bare  support  for  the  stationed  minis- 
ter.    It  makes  hard  work  for  them,  becomes  a  degrading 


rev.  mr.  tiiurston's  essay.  31 

business  for  them,  and  is  equally  so  for  the  man  to  be  sent 
there.  It  seems  to  me  that  if  we  should  return  to  the  cir- 
cuit system,  if  we  should  combine  two  or  three  of  them 
together,  if  three  places  can  support  two  preachers,  let 
them  do  so,  and  let  the  preachers  alternate  with  each  other. 
I  do  not  say  that  it  would  be  best  in  all  places,  but  in 
these  weak  places  I  do  not  believe  it  would  hurt  them  a 
bit.  I  am  afraid  that  our  young  preachers  will  become 
rather  effeminate. 

One  idea  further.  I  think  that  the  circuit  system  pro- 
motes the  social  element.  When  I  first  associated  myself 
with  the  Methodist  Church,  it  was  not  an  infrequent  thing 
to  go  twenty  or  thirty  miles  to  attend  a  quarterly  meet- 
ing. They  expected  a  good  time,  and  they  had  it.  Now 
the  quarterly  meeting  is  on  Sunday,  and  the  Presiding 
Elder  comes,  calls  the  Board  together,  preaches  a  sermon 
and  goes,  and  there  is  no  mark  left  behind  it.  It  was  not 
so  formerly.  We  never  expected  that  the  quarterly  meeting 
would  pass  without  God  converted  souls.  We  expected 
that  when  God  reckoned  up  the  people,  it  would  be  said 
that  this  brother  and  that  brother  were  born  there.  I 
have  been  to  quarterly  meetings  where  there  were  scores 
converted. 

I  hope  that  there  will  be  action  on  this  subject  taken  in 
this  Convention,  and  that  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  down 
into  our  hearts,  so  that  we  shall  be  happier  and  better  and 
wiser,  until,  when  the  next  century  shall  come,  there  shall 
be  scores  and  millions  who  shall  be  gathered  in,  better 
Methodists  than  any  of  us  here  to-day. 

The  essay  on  Home  and  Sunday-School  Instruction  in 
the  Doctrines  and  Usages  of  the  Church,  was  now  read  by 
Rev.  James  Thurston,  of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference, 
as  follows :  — 

The  Methodist  people,  as  a  whole,  are  probably  more  inclined 
to  a  healthy  ecclesiasticism  than  any  of  the  non-Episcopal  de- 


32  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

nominations ;  yet,  in  urging  the  duty  of  home  and  Sunday- 
school  instruction  in  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  the  Church, 
we  need  be  exercised  by  no  horror  of  what  a  late  distinguished 
writer  calls  mere  "  Churchianitj^,"  as  distinguished  from  vital 
Christianity ;  for  there  is  evidently  great  laxness  among  us, 
especially  in  New  England,  in  this  particular  branch  of  Chris- 
tian training. 

The  attempted  revival  of  catechetical  instruction  a  few 
years  since,  and  the  more  recent  discussions  by  some  earnest 
minds  among  us,  which  have  resulted  in  the  new  chapter  in 
our  Discipline  on  the  "  Relation  of  Baptized  Children  to  the 
Church,"  were  promising  efforts  in  this  direction,  so  far  as 
they  proposed  to  go  ;  but  we  are  inclined  to  think  that,  practi- 
cally, they  have  amounted  to  but  very  little.  Indeed,  so  far 
as  any  thorough  and  systematic  efforts  are  concerned,  either  in 
our  families  or  our  Sunday-schools,  we  are  doing  almost  noth- 
ing by  way  of  instruction  in  the  doctrine  and  usages  of  the 
Church,  as  such.  There  are  probably  very  few  families  among 
us,  including  those  of  our  ministers,  where  the  children,  even 
those  of  larger  growth,  can  give  any  intelligible  account  of 
what  the  Church  believes,  much  less  of  the  grounds  of  her 
faith,  or  of  the  nature  and  designs  of  her  distinctive  usages. 

This  certainly  ought  not  so  to  be.  I  propose,  therefore,  to 
present  some  reasons  which  should  prompt  us,  as  a  people, 
to  give  more  attention  to  this  important  work. 

1.  The  Church  is  God's  institution.  We  do  not  mean  to 
say  that  our  Church  is  such  in  any  invidious  or  exclusive  sense, 
but  it  certainly  is  a  part  of  that  divine  organization  which 
Christ  has  established  for  the  enfolding  and  guiding  of  his  great 
flock  on  the  earth.  If  there  are  good  reasons  why  adult  per- 
sons should  understand  and  appreciate  the  principles  and 
operations  of  an  institution  of  God,  and  if  it  is  a  just  conclu- 
sion that  children  should  be  taught  divine  things,  as  well  as 
grown-up  people,  then  it  is  our  duty  to  instruct  the  coming 
generations  in  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  that  branch  of  the 
"  Holy  Catholic  Church"  into  which  the  providence  of  God  has 
led  us. 

2.  There  is  a  stronger,  argument  for  the  instruction  of  Meth- 


rev.  mb.  tiiurston's  essay.  33 

odist  children  in  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  the  Methodist 

Church  than  that  which  arises  from  mere  consistency  and  the 
fitness  of  things.  It  is  fitting  and  consistent  that  each  Church 
should  take  care  of  its  own  children,  and  Methodists  should  not 
be  indifferent  to  this  demand.  But  we  honestly  believe  that  our 
doctrines  and  usages  should  be  made  the  subjects  of  home  and 
Sunday-school  instruction,  because  they  are  better  than  those 
of  any  other  Church,  because  the  principles  and  methods  of 
the  true  Church  of  Christ  find  here  their  fullest  significance  and 
highest  development. 

A  semi-liberal  doctor  has  told  us  that  we  "  cannot  fasten  the 
soul  of  the  child  to  Christ  with  the  spikes  of  dogma."  That  is 
true  when  the  dogma  is  wrought  into  spikes  and  driven  through 
the  soul  of  the  child,  crushing  its  reason  and  freedom ;  but 
when  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  are  so  presented  and  illus- 
trated as  to  appear  in  their  native  simplicity  and  consistency, 
they  will  commend  themselves  to  even  the  soul  of  the  child. 
Then  the  "  words  of  the  wise  shall  be  as  goads,  and  as  nails 
fastened  by  the  masters  of  assemblies,  which  are  given  by  one 
Shepherd." 

3.  If  our  children  are  allowed  to  grow  up  ignorant  of,  and 
consequently  indifferent  to,  these  things,  they  will  finally  get 
perverted,  false,  and  injurious  views  of  them.  This  is  true, 
wmether  we  consider  it  as  relating  to  the  Church  of  Christ  in 
general,  or  the  Methodist  Church  in  particular.  Many  thou- 
sands of  the  children  of  the  Church  of  Christ  have  become 
alienated  from  her  simply  from  the  lack  of  such  instruction. 
To-day  they  revile  her  doctrines,  curse  her  communion,  and 
blaspheme  the  name  of  her  divine  Head,  and  rank  themselves 
with  her  open  enemies  or  willing  neglecters,  because  they  were 
never  taught  the  truth  as  it  is,  or  because  the  practical  in- 
structions they  received,  in  the  examples  of  their  teachers,  gave 
the  lie  to  the  lessons  imparted. 

It  is  to  be  expected,  and  perhaps  not  much  regretted,  that 
there  should  be,  to  some  extent,  in  all  the  churches  a  mingling 
of  persons  of  different  ecclesiastical  and  family  antecedents. 
But  if  we  are  Methodists  from  conviction  and  affection,  and 
not  merely  from  the  accidents  of  association  and  locality,  we 


34  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

cannot  be  indifferent  to  the  undeniable  fact  that  thousands  of 
men  and  women,  who  were  bom  in  Methodist  households  and 
converted  at  Methodist  altars,  owe  and  own  allegiance  to 
communions  whose  doctrines  and  usages  we  believe  to  be  less 
adapted  to  promote  a  truly  successful  religious  life.  Of  course 
we  grieve  not  for  these  as  for  the  much  larger  number  who  ac- 
knowledge allegiance  only  to  the  "  god  of  this  world."  Yet 
we  cannot  resist  the  conviction  that  vast  numbers  of  such  had 
never  gone  out  from  us  if  they  had  been  trained  to  understand, 
and  therefore  to  prefer,  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  the  Church 
of  their  fathers.  It  is  not  necessary  that  our  children  should 
be  trained  bigots  or  mere  Church  partisans,  but  they  can,  and 
ought,  to  be  made  to  appreciate  and  love  the  Church  they 
should  feel  proud  to  call  their  own. 

In  regard  to  the  best  methods  of  doing  this  important'  work, 
we  have  time  for  only  a  few  brief  suggestions. 

1.  And,  first  of  all,  let  the  pulpit  speak  on  this  subject. 
It  is  not  enough  to  preach  Sunda3T-school  sermons  now  and 
then,  nor  to  present  the  general  subject  of  religious  home 
training  ;  but  this  specific  topic  of  instruction  in  the  faith  and 
practice  of  the  Church,  as  such,  should  be  brought  prominently 
before  the  people.  We  cannot  expect  them  to  move  in  this  till 
their  pastors  shall  give  the  key-note. 

2.  Let  Methodist  parents  make  it  a  point  to  methodize  their 
children ;  that  is,  make  them  Christians  after  the  Methodist 
pattern.  And  to  this  end,  (1.)  let  them  teach  true  Christian 
Churchism  —  to  believe  in  the  sacredness  and  divinity  of  the 
Church  as  an  institution  of  God.  (2.)  Let  them  observe  them- 
selves the  ordinances  of  the  Church,  and  particularly  let  them 
dedicate  their  children  to  God  in  baptism.  Let  them  be  Meth- 
odists themselves  in  this  thing.  (3i)  Then  let  them  explain  to 
their  children,  in  those  familiar  talks  which  children  love  so 
well,  the  nature  of  the  Church,  her  doctrines,  ordinances,  and 
usages.  What  a  delightful  and  promising  work  would  this  be  ! 
(4.)  It  would  be  a  good  plan  for  parents  to  give  their  children 
lessons,  to  commit  to  memory,  in  the  Articles  of  Religion  and 
the  General  Rules.  (5.)  The  Catechism  will  be  found  of  great 
service  in  this  work ;  for,  though  it  is  designed  to  cover  the 


REV.    MR.    TnURSTON'S   ESSAY.  35 

■whole  ground  of  the  theory,  experience,  and  practice  of  the 
Christian  religion,  yet  much  of  it  can  be  applied  specifically  to 
the  teaching,  illustrating,  and  proving  the  doctrine  and  usages 
of  the  Church. 

3.  Let  the  Articles  of  Religion,  General  Rules,  Baptismal 
Covenant,  Apostles'  Creed,  and  the  Catechism  be  committed  to 
memory  in  the  Sunday-school,  with  brief  lectures  by  superin- 
tendent or  pastor  from  time  to  time. 

4.  If  some  competent  author  would  prepare  a  manual,  for 
home  and  Sunday-school  instruction,  embracing  these  matters, 
with  a  brief  sketch  of  general  and  Methodist  Church  history, 
to  be  used  by  our  people,  he  would  do  the  cause  of  Christ 
great  service. 

Finally,  let  us  remember  that  these  instructions  must  be  illus- 
trated by  the  true  spirit  and  life ;  without  this,  doctrines  and 
Church  rites  are  but  the  letter  that  killeth.  The  spirit  that  giveth 
life  is  a  spirit  of  loyalty  to  the  Church,  of  love  to  God  and  souls, 
of  faithful  working  and  holy  living.  The  soul  of  the  child  ma}1-, 
in  some  sense,  be  fastened  to  Christ  by  these  spikes  of  sound 
doctrine,  when  first  it  is  won  by  the  ;c  fragrance  of  a  divine  life 
filling  the  house." 

Dr.  True,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference:  —  I  want  to  break 
the  ice.  I  understand  that  the  Rev.  Daniel  Richards,  of 
the  New  England  Conference,  has  something  to  say  on  this 
essay. 

(Mr.  Richards  w^as  called  for,  but  did  not  respond.) 
Rev.  Dr.  Coggeshall,  of  the  Providence  Conference:  —  I  feel, 
sir,  very  much  interested  in  this  essay.  I  accord  with  the 
writer ;  I  agree  with  him  in  opinion ;  I  have  done  so  for  a 
long  time.  There  is  one  thing,  sir,  that  has  deceived  us 
Methodists,  one  of  the  prominent  phases  of  Methodism  — 
namely,  ours  has  been  a  Revival  Church.  We  com- 
menced with  a  revival  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic 
and  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  that  revival  has  con- 
tinued until  now;  it  has  never  ceased,  at  least,  for  any 
length  of  time,  and  so  far  as  the  wdiole  denomination  is 
concerned,  has  never  ceased.    Sometimes  we  have  not  only 


36  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

been  permitted  to  raise  up  a  class  in  a  year,  but,  some- 
times, a  church  in  a  year,  and  sometimes  several  hundred 
churches  in  a  year.  And  this  work  has  gone  on  until  we 
have  attained  our  present  colossal  proportions ;  until  in  this 
centennial  year  of  Methodism  we  all  rejoice  over  a  million 
of  people  in  our  communion  ;  and  if  we  reckon  all  branches 
of  this  Church,  nearly  double  this  number. 

Now,  Mr.  President,  these  very  successes  have  deceived 
us.  We  may  as  well  look  at  this  point  first  as  last,  and 
look  at  ourselves  in  this  particular. 

In  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  we  see  all  revivals.  The 
day  of  Pentecost  was  a  great  revival,  and  so  all  the  way 
through.  But  when  we  come  to  the  twenty-one  epistles, 
revival  is  never  mentioned.  Look  at  that  fact.  But  there 
it  is  doctrine,  discipline,  dogma,  culture.  That  is  the  thing, 
sir,  and  there  it  is,  bringing  up  our  children  in  the  nurture 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 

And  in  the  Letters  to  the  Seven  Churches  in  Asia  it  is, 
doctrine,  discipline,  holy  living.  It  is  not,  repent  and  have 
your  first  feeling,  but,  repent  and  do  the  first  works ;  and 
that  is  a  great  difference. 

The  trouble  is,  now-a-days,  to  have  our  first  feelings. 
We  wait  until  men  die,  and  societies  perish,  and  ministers 
are  driven  from  their  fields  of  labor.  When  we  get  to 
giving  heed,  then  the  thing  will  be  done. 

Now,  sir,  whoever  has  read  the  Old  and  New  Testaments 
will  be  satisfied  that  the  great  design  of  the  Head  of  the 
Church  is  that  the  Church  shall  grow  rather  from  within 
than  from  ivithout,  because  we  cannot  control  the  masses 
without  order.  Ofttimes  the  masses  have  been  far  too 
strong  for  the  Church.  But  we  can  control  our  own  chil- 
dren and  domestic  relations.  Thus  it  appears  that  the 
promise  made  to  Abraham  that  "  In  thee  and  in  thy  seed 
shall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed,"  and  "  I  will  be 
a  God  unto  thee  and  to  thy  seed  after  thee,"  and  that  he 
"  should  be.  the  father  of  many  nations,"  was  made  to  de- 


DISCUSSION  OF  MB.  tiiurston's  essat.  37 

pend  upon  what,  sir?  A  revival?  Not  exactly,  sir,  but 
upon  the  religious  culture  of  his  children.  And  we  see 
this  idea  running-  all  through  the  Book  of  God.  "I  will 
circumcise  thy  children,  and  they  shall  love  the  Lord  thy 
God ; "  and  "  I  will  pour  out  of  my  spirit  upon  thy 
seed,"  and  "  they  shall  spring  up  as  willows  by  the  water- 
courses." 

Some  years  ago,  at  a  camp-meeting  at  the  South,  a 
brother  was  put  upon  the  stand  to  give  a  closing  address. 
Said  he,  "  Now  you  have  been  here  four  or  five  days,  and 
souls  have  been  blessed,  saints  have  been  sanctified,  and 
you  have  lived  in  heaven  though  on  earth.  Now  you  are 
going  home,  and  your  religion  is  to  be  put  to  the  test.  It 
is  to  come  to  the  test  on  your  farms  and  plantations,  and  in 
your  political  life  ;  and  I  wish  you  to  understand,  brethren, 
this  one  thing:  Methodism  is  like  a  willow  withe  ;  stick  it 
down  either  end  first  and  it  will  grow.  [Laughter.]  And 
you  never  can  pull  it  up."  Now,  the  very  first  sermon  that 
was  preached  on  the  clay  of  Pentecost,  when  Peter  stood  up 
to  inaugurate  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  and  open  the  doors 
to  the  perishing  multitude,  and  the  cry  came  up  from  that 
great  family,  "  Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we  do  ?  "  here 
the  word  came,  "  Repent  and  be  baptized  every  one  of 
you,"  etc. ;  "  for  the  promise  is  unto  you  and  to  your  chil- 
dren." The  children  were  not  forgotten,  neither  were  they 
neglected.  I  am  satisfied  of  this  one  thing, — that  if  the 
simple  advice  of  Bro.  Thurston  were  heeded,  if  we  trained 
properly  our  children,  we  could  speedily  double  ourselves 
from  within  and  double  ourselves  from  without.  And 
when  these  United  States  are  converted,  and  we  in  our 
proper  position,  then  it  would  not  take  a  great  time  to 
convert  the  rest  of  the  world,  for  the  rest  of  the  world 
must  do  as  we  bid  them  do !  Never  mind  whether  they 
dwell  in  Europe,  Asia,  or  Africa,  or  in  the  Islands  of  the 
Sea ;  whether  they  be  Papists,  Mohammedans,  or  heathen, 
for  they  must  by  and  by  do  as  we  say  !     I  have  no  doubt 


38  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

but  one  hundred  years  from  this  time  the  whole  world 
must  do  as  we  say.  Any  Church  that  controls  these 
United  States,  in  the  course  of  the  next  century,  will  con- 
trol the  destinies  of  this  world.  I  have  no  more  doubt  of 
it  than  I  have  of  the  multiplication-table.  And  now  for 
this  great  work  we  must  apply  ourselves.  I  am  a  father, 
and  although  I  have  not  performed  my  work  as  earnestly 
and  faithfully  as  I  should  have  done,  I  have  received  grace 
from  above  so  that  I  have  satisfied  myself  that  these  prin- 
ciples and  facts  are  true.  And  if,  therefore,  our  brethren 
who  are  complaining  of  a  want  of  revivals  will  now  go 
home  and  commence  in  their  own  families,  they  will  soon 
have  one. 

What  is  the  Church  of  God?  It  is  a  congregation  of 
Christian  families.  If  they  are  intelligent,  pure,  holy,  de- 
vout, and  perfectly  given  to  God,  the  Church  will  be  so. 
If  these  families  are  prayerless,  the  Church  will  be  so  like- 
wise. Since  the  water  cannot  rise  any  higher  than  the 
fountain,  the  Church  can  rise  no  higher  than  the  families. 
I  rejoice  in  God  that,  at  our  General  Conference  of  1856,  in 
Indianapolis,  Bro.  Hibbard  was  led  to  introduce  this  sub- 
ject, which  led  to  the  introduction  of  the  thing  into  our 
Discipline.  I  rejoice,  also,  in  everything  of  this  kind  which 
has  been  clone.  I  rejoice  in  this  discussion.  I  rejoice  in 
the  introduction  of  the  thing  into  the  "  Quarterly,"  and  the 
books  from  the  Book  Room.  We  have  made  progress  in 
the  right  direction,  and  as  we  are  upon  the  right  track,  I 
trust  we  shall  compass  our  purposes  at  last,  and  the  time 
come  when  it  is  said,  "  The  Lord  God  shall  cause  right- 
eousness and  praise  to  spring  forth  before  all  the  nations." 
(Isa.  lxi.  11.) 

Rev.  N.  Culver ',  of  the  N.  H.  Conference : — I  merely  rise  to 
endorse  the  essay,  and  to  add  a  word  or  two  in  order  that 
this  Convention  may  feel  the  force  of  the  sentiments  there 
presented.  There  is  one  thiDg  that  hinders  us  in  our 
particular  efforts  for  the  instruction  of  children.     There 


DISCUSSION   OF   MR.    TIlURSTOK's   ESSAY.  39 

18  a  feeling  among  the  preachers,  to  some  extent,  I  know, 
that  they  have  not  talent  to  instruct  the  children  accord- 
ing to  the  Discipline*  And  there  is  this  same  feeling 
with  the  laity.  It  is  sometimes  difficult  to  find  a  superin- 
tendent, and  there  is  difficulty  to  find  teachers  adapted 
to  the  Sabbath-school  work.  I  have  had  ministers  say  to 
me,  "  I  cannot  talk  to  children." 

Now,  my  brethren,  it  seems  to  me  that  if  I  could  not 
talk  to  the  children,  I  would  go  and  pray  to  God  until  I 
got  baptized  with  the  spirit  of  love  for  the  children ;  and 
then  I  would  pray  for  and  preach  to  them,  and  get  their 
attention  and  their  hearts.  If  I  wanted  to  increase  my 
congregation,  I  would  certainly  go  to  work  to  get  the 
children  blessed.  And  I  would  go  outside  of  my  church, 
and  to  those  who  are  non-attendants  of  any  church,  and  if 
I  could  get  the  children  of  that  family,  I  could  get  the 
parents  too.  As  an  illustration :  There  was  an  Irish  family 
of  my  acquaintance.  The  parents  were  profane,  intemper- 
ate, and,  withal,  inclined  to  Romanism.  There  were  two 
lovely  children  in  that  family,  and  I  felt  interested  to  get 
them  into  the  Sabbath-school.  I  went  and  urged  that  they 
might  attend  the  Sabbath-school.  The  parents  said,  "  We 
are  poor,  and  cannot  clothe  them."  I  promised  them 
clothing,  and  they  declined.  But  I  went  again,  and,  at 
length,  after  repeated  attempts,  1  secured  a  promise  from 
the  parents  that  they  might  go  to  the  school  on  the  condi- 
tion that  I  should  clothe  them.  The  man  came  to  me  as 
early  as  half-past  nine  o'clock  one  Sabbath  morning,  and 
said,  "  I  present  them  to  you,  sir."  I  took  them  and  put 
them  into  good  classes ;  and,  in  a  little  while,  the  man  came 
to  me  and  asked,  "  How  do  my  little  boy  and  girl  get 
along  ?  I  must  come  and  see  them,"  said  he.  He  did 
come  and  see  them,  and  soon  he  rented  a  pew,  and  soon 
set  up  his  family  altar  and  sought  after  God.  He  came  to 
me  a  little  time  after,  and  said,  "  I  want  to  pay  for  preach- 
ing," and  brought  me  the  clothes,  saying,  "  They  have  been 


40        METHODIST  CENTENARY  CONVENTION. 

kept  nice,  and  I  want  you  to  give  them  to  some  one  else, 
for  I  can  clothe  them  myself;  and  I  want  to  go  to  church." 
And  the  man  came  to  church,  and  became  a  very  respect- 
able man.  I  know  the  family  now.  They  live  in  a  fine 
house  ;  have  property  ;  the  children  are  grown  up,  and  are 
educated ;  stand  high  in  the  community,  and  are  respected. 
The  whole  result  is  from  taking  these  little  ones  and  lead- 
ing them  to  the  Sabbath-school.  I  could  speak  of  various 
cases  within  my  knowledge  of  the  same  or  similar  results. 
I  thank  God  that  in  the  same  Sabbath-school  I  know  one 
minister  who  was  converted  there,  led  to  Christ,  so  that  he 
became  a  good  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

Ministers  in  different  Conferences  have  acknowledged  to 
me  that  they  obtained  their  first  impressions  in  the  Sab- 
bath-school. Now,  I  believe  we  must  take  hold  of  this 
work,  and  go  out  after  the  children,  and  seek  to  bring  them 
to  Christ  and  heaven. 

Rev  I.  J.  P.  Collyer,  of  the  JST.  E.  Conference  :  —  I  will 
tell  you  a  little  fact  to  correspond  with  the  one  my  brother 
has  just  told.  A  little  New  England  radicalism  needs  to 
be  thrown  in  to  break  up  the  restraint  that  seems  to  pre- 
vail. If  we  are  to  give  instruction  to  children,  as  we  are 
taught  by  that  essay,  which  seems  to  be  endorsed  by  these 
brethren,  we  must  have  more  time.  And  this  acquisition 
again  refers  to  the  subject-matter  before  you  a  little  while 
ago  ;  namely,  the  circuit  system,  —  the  having  a  pastor  fill 
two  churches,  and  occupying  one  half-day  in  each,  leaving 
the  other  half  for  the  Sabbath-school.  If  we  will  do  this,  we 
shall  have  plenty  of  time  to  carry  out  the  idea  of  the  essay. 
Many  of  our  schools  are  held  only  three  fourths  of  an  hour. 
Many  of  them  are  held  just  after  the  morning  services,  and 
the  children  have  no  disposition  to  learn  either  the  dry  or 
the  more  genial  truths  that  are  taught  them.  But  if  time 
is  taken,  and  plenty  of  it  is  taken,  to  impress  their  hearts 
and  minds,  then  we  may  lead  them,  sir,  in  the  way  to  get 
their  souls,  as  well  as  in  the  truths  that  shall  build  them  up 


REV.    DR.    FAIL'S    E88AY.  41 

in  instruction.  But,  sir,  the  fact  to  which  I  referred  is 
tin's:  An  unconverted  man,  a  man  of  strength,  met  me 

the  other  day.  Said  I,  "  Why  are  you  not  more  at 
church?"  "I  am  a  watchman,"  said  he.  "I  watch 
nights,  and  have  to  sleep  in  the  daytime;  but  I  am  ex- 
ceedingly interested  in  your  Sabbath-school.  Uncle  Cook 
came  to  mu-  Sabbath-school,  and  promised  a  Bible  to  the 
person  who  should  get  an  adult  into  the  Sabbath-school, 
particularly  a  father  or  mother.  My  little  child  came 
home  and  tried  to  get  her  mother  to  go,  but  did  not  suc- 
ceed, and  then  came  to  me.  I  have  never  been  accus- 
tomed to  attend  church.  I  did  not  go  at  all.  But  I 
looked  upon  little  Nellie,  and  thought  of  her  desire  for 
the  beautiful  Bible,  and  finally,  said  I,  '  She  shall  have 
it.'  And  when  the  day  came,  I  said  to  her,  '  I  will  go, 
Nellie.7 ,;  Nellie  took  his  hand  and  walked  into  the  room 
where  Uncle  Cook  was,  introduced  him  to  the  superin- 
tendent, and  told  her  story ;  and  he  entered  the  Sabbath- 
school,  and  now,  sir,  he  is  going  to  be  converted ! 

Rev.  Mr.  Enrigkt,  of  the  Vermont  Conference,  said  that  a 
personal  acquaintance  with  Methodism  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic  justified  him  in  saying  that  the  mother  Church 
exceeded  her  more  thrifty  daughter  of  this  Western  world 
in  attention  to  the  children. 

In  the  absence  of  Rev.  Prof.  Vail,  of  the  Concord  Bibli- 
cal Institute,  N.  H.,  who  was  detained  by  sickness,  the 
essay  assigned  him,  on  the  Education  of  the  Ministry,  was 
now  read  by  Dr.  Cooke,  of  the  New  England  Conference  :  — 

"  Speaking  the  truth  in  love,"  is  an  apostolic  and  divine 
precept.  But  speaking  the  truth  on  many  subjects  is  often  un- 
acceptable to  the  hearers.  This  we  have  found  to  be  the  case 
in  speaking  the  truth  on  the  subject  of  Ministerial  Education. 
We  have  found  that  the  men  who  boast  of  preaching  with 
plainness  to  others  are  most  intolerant  of  plain  preaching 
when  directed  to  themselves.  Nevertheless,  we  must  continue 
preaching  to  the  preachers,  whether  they  will  hear  or  whether 


42  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

they  will  forbear.  Above  all  other  men,  they  should  be  in- 
structed and  warned  ;  "  for  if  the  blind  lead  the  blind,  both 
shall  fall  into  the  ditch."  In  1848  the  passage  of  our  character 
was  arrested  before  our  annual  Conference,  by  our  Presiding 
Elder,  because  we  dared  to  tell  them  that  the}?-  were  "  lament- 
ably deficient  in  learning."  Our  brethren  put  the  screws  upon 
us,  and  undertook  to  make  us  take  the  declaration  back.  But 
through  grace  we  held  fast  to  it,  and  declared  before  them  all 
that  it  was  true,  and  ice  never  ivouhl  take  back  a  syllable  of  it." 
After  keeping  us  suspended  seven  days,  they  took  off  the  screws, 
said  we  were  a  good  fellow,  that  there  teas  no  fault  in  us,  and  let 
us  go  !  So  we  finally  fared  a  great  deal  better  than  our  Mas- 
ter, who  lost  his  life  for  his  faithful  witness  to  the  truth.  All 
this  was  done  by  a  Methodist  Conference,  less  than  twenty 
years  ago,  in  the  cit}'  of  Burlington,  in  the  recently  enlightened 
State  of  New  Jersey,  admitted  a  second  time  into  the  Union  at 
the  November  election,  1865.  We  protest,  brethren  (we  speak 
now  more  especially  to  the  ministiy),  that  ice  are  not  your  ene- 
my because  ice  tell  you  the  truth,  and  that  we  never  have  been 
your  enemy,  as  we  have  steadily  declared  this  fact,  that  the 
Methodist  ministry  are  too  generally  lamentably  deficient  in 
learning.  It  is  less  true  now  than  it  was  twenty  }Tears  ago,  for 
which  God  be  praised !  But  it  is  still  too  true.  In  learning 
we  are,  too  many  of  us,  lamentably  deficient,  and  what  is  even 
more  to  be  deplored,  we  have  not  grace  enough  (at  least,  this  is 
the  case  with  some  of  us)  to  be  told  of  the  fact.  Our  vener- 
able Missionary  Secretary,  whose  little  finger  is  bigger  than  the 
loins  of  some  of  his  junior  brethren,  was  pleased  to  say,  a 
short  time  since,  that  the  life  of  the  Church  is  progressive,  and 
gives,  as  an  instance  of  progression  in  our  own  history,  our 
advancement  in  education.  Now,  on  this  present  week  (May 
10),  the  venerable  Secretary  is  sharply  called  to  account  for 
such  temerity  as  uttering  a  "  charge,"  and  making  "  a  slander 
upon  the  mother  that  bore  us."  But,  after  all  this  little  dust, 
the  venerable  Secretary  is  right.  The  normal  life  of  the  Church 
is  progressive.  It  is  so  presented  in  Scripture.  It  is  so  exem- 
plified in  history.  He  is  right  on  the  question  of  "  a  lay  repre- 
sentation," too,  else  the  constitution  of  this  Convention  is  a 


REV.    DB.    VAIL  8    ESSAY.  43 

great  mistake,  made  up  as  it  is  equally  of  ministers  and  lay- 
men.    Yes,  brethren,  the  life  of  Methodism  is  progressive.    All 

along  in  the  century  just  closing  it  has  been  making  progress 
in  knowledge,  in  grace,  in  influence,  in  respectability,  in  num- 
bers, in  education,  in  moral  power,  in  Conferences,  institutions 
of  learning,  in  churches  and  church  architecture,  in  wealth,  in 
missions,  in  missionary  labor,  and  in  missionary  funds;  in 
colleges,  universities,  and  theological  seminaries,  and,  above 
all,  in  well-educated,  able,  successful,  and  godly  ministers,  and 
in  a  pious,  intelligent,  liberal  laity,  until,  as  Chief  Justice 
Chase  recently  said  in  New  York,  "  The  Methodist  Church  has 
become  the  Church  of  the  country."  Well  did  he  add,  "Its 
beginnings,  oh,  how  feeble !  Its  present  status,  oh,  how  glo- 
rious ! " 

But  we  must  not  be  self-adulatory.  "  Let  another  praise 
thee,  and  not  thine  own  mouth."  AYe  must  speak  the  truth, 
and  not  be  blind  to  our  remaining  faults  and  short-comings. 
Much  yet  remains  to  be  clone.  The  first  and  greatest  want  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  in  our  estimation,  is  a  well-qualified 
ministry.  "  Like  priest,  like  people,"  has  passed  into  a  proverb, 
though  the  prophet  puts  the  simile  the  other  way,  "Like  peo- 
ple, like  priest,"  for  the  purpose  of  expressing  the  thought  that 
the  priests  of  his  day  had  fallen  down  to  the  same  moral  level 
with  the  ignorant  and  sinful  common  herd.  They  should  have 
been  its  leaders,  its  guides,  "  pointing  to  brighter  worlds,  and 
leading  the  way."  It  is  clear,  then,  that  the  better  and  higher 
the  character  of  the  ministry,  the  more  elevated  and  happy  will 
be  the  people. 

WHY    SHOULD    THE    MINISTRY    BE    WELL    EDUCATED? 

Let  us  look  at  a  few  of  the  reasons  why  the  ministry  should 
be  well  educated. 

1.  The  ministerial  vocation  is  pre-eminently  a  teaching  vo- 
cation. It  is  necessary  that  a  bishop,  says  Paul,  be  didw/.zixo^ 
—  apt  to  teach  —  skillful  in  the  work  of  teaching.  But  no  man 
can  teach  what  he  has  not  first  learned.  Hence  there  must  be 
teachers  of  the  ministry,  and  schools  are  a  necessary  expedient 
for  the  most  profitable  and  ellicient  communication  of  divine 
knowledge. 


44        METHODIST  CENTENARY  CONVENTION. 

It  is  the  business  of  the  minister  to  teach  especiaity  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  A  knowledge  of  the  original  Scriptures,  the  Greek 
of  the  New  Testament  and  the  Hebrew  of  the  Old,  is  needful. 
The  English  translation  is  not  inspired ;  no  translation  is 
inspired.  All  are  human.  The  divine  originals  alone  are 
inspired  from  heaven.  No  minister  who  aspires  to  be  a  true 
and  most  efficient  teacher  of  God's  word  will  be  content  for  a 
moment  to  exercise  his  office  without  a  knowledge  of  the  divine 
originals.  It  is  a  great  work  to  expound  the  Scriptures.  We 
venture  to  say  that  there  are  very  few  men  now  living  that  can 
correctly  explain  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis.  Very  few  of  the 
living  ministry,  we  judge,  even  of  this  day  of  light,  can  inter- 
pret properly  the  prophecies  of  Daniel  and  Zechariah.  No 
man  who  is  not  a  master  of  the  divine  originals  can  do  it. 
How  few,  also,  are  able  properly  to  explain  the  Epistle  to  the 
Romans  !  and  the  number  is  still  less  of  those  who  can  open 
to  our  astonished  sight  the  mysteries  of  the  Apocalypse.  And 
yet  we  cannot  excuse  the  young  man  who,  at  this  clay,  enters 
upon  the  sacred  office  without  an  ability  to  do  all  this  ;  and  the 
time  is  not  far  distant  when  the  Church  will  not  excuse  him. 
The  Methodist  people  read  their  Bibles ;  their  children  do 
the  same,  and  love  to  do  it.  The  one  and  a  half  millions  of  our 
Sunday-school  children  and  Bible-class  scholars  are  engaged 
about  this  blessed  work  every  Sabbath.  In  their  difficulties, 
to  whom  shall  they  go  but  to  the  pastor  of  the  flock  ? 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  our  ministry  be  educated, 
—  well  educated, —  educated  in  the  best  possible  manner, 
in  order  to  discharge  their  great  duty  to  Christ  and  to  their 
congregations.  Let  the  young  man  remember  that  the  hosts  of 
our  Sabbath-school  children  are  already  upon  his  heels,  and  let 
him  bestir  himself  in  this  matter  of  the  attainment  of  sacred 
knowledge  ;  for,  if  he  cannot  feed  them,  the}'  will  find  another 
shepherd. 

2.  A  second  reason  why  the  ministry  should  be  well  edu- 
cated is  the  fact  that  the  churches  and  the  people  generally 
look  to  the  ministry  to  take  a  leading  part  in  the  great  moral 
enterprises  of  the  day  ;  such  as  temperance,  secular  education, 
the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  the  promotion  of  equal  rights 


RET.   DR.   vail's  essay.  45 

in  opposition  to  caste  and  slavery,  and  the  multitude  of  kindred 
objects  which  have  for  their  purpose  the  establishment  of  morals 
and  the  Christian  religion.  In  all  these  matters  the  pastors  are 
to  take  a  leading  interest.  They  are  to  advocate  them  upon 
right  principles;  they  are  to  show  themselves  consistent  in 
their  teachings.  When  they  teach  morals,  they  are  not  to  con- 
tradict their  teachings  in  religion.  "When  they  preach  temper- 
ance, they  are  to  put  it  upon  Bible  grounds.  When  they 
preach  equal  rights,  the  proper  distinctions  must  be  made  in 
regard  to  the  ruler  and  the  subject.  When  called  upon  to  ad- 
vocate the  importance  of  secular  education,  and  to  promote  the 
welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  common  schools,  they  must,  on 
such  occasions,  at  least  speak  good  English.  And  when  they 
examine  a  teacher,  the  certificate  should  be  in  all  respects  an 
example  of  correctness,  otherwise  the  minister  suffers  in  his 
reputation,  and  the  Church  suffers  from  his  incompetency.  His 
want  of  learning  brings  upon  it  reproach,  if  not  disgrace. 

Now,  such  a  minister  must  be  a  thoroughly-educated  man. 
He  must  be  a  man  of  learning,  acquainted  with  the  classic 
writers  of  other  languages  besides  his  own.  He  must  be  a 
good  grammarian,  a  good  theologian,  and  well  versed  in  his- 
tor}T,  and,  above  all,  in  the  Scriptures.  He  must  have  all  this 
superadded  to  good,  sound  common  sense,  and  a  good  degree 
of  health  and  physical  energy.  I  must  emphasize  common 
se?ise,  for  however  much  learning  a  minister  has,  if  it  is  not  laid 
in  a  good  substratum  of  common  sense,  it  is  of  but  little  prac- 
tical account.  Many  of  our  fathers  in  the  ministry  were  men 
of  limited  learning,  but  they  abounded  in  good  common  sense, 
and  in  piety  towards  God.  But  our  fathers,  who  were  men  of 
learning,  superadded  to  good  sense  and  deep  devotion,  were  the 
men  who  gave  character  and  influence  to  the  Church.  Such 
were  Iledding  and  Ruter,  Fisk  and  Olin,  Mudge  and  Merritt, 
Pickering  and  Lindsey.  These,  with  many  others  who  might 
be  named,  were  men  of  respectable  learning,  superadded  to 
great  common  sense,  and  piety,  and  powerful  pulpit  talents. 
Such  are  the  true  fathers,  under  God,  of  New  England  Meth- 
odism, whose  names  will  be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance. 

There  is  the  best  reason  to  believe  that  the  knowledge  of  let- 


46  METHODIST   CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

ters  was  originally  given  to  man  by  the  divine  hand.  However 
this  may  have  been,  it  is  certain  that  God  has  made  letters  the 
depository  of  his  oracles.  It  is  in  vain,  therefore,  for  any  man 
to  properly  attempt  the  duties  of  a  minister  of  the  Christian  re" 
ligion  without  a  knowledge  of  these.  Besides,  they  are  a 
necessity  of  civilization,  and  of  all  human  progress  and  happi- 
ness. The  absurdity  of  a  want  of  understanding  in  these  is 
therefore  apparent. 

Hence  the  prophets  and  apostles  were  men  of  letters,  as  their 
writings  clearly  attest.  So  the  Lord  Jesus  himself  did  not  de- 
spise letters ;  for  the  people,  wondering  at  his  learning,  said, 
"  How  knoweth  this  man  letters,  having  never  learned?  "  And 
again  it  is  said,  "  Having  stooped  down,  he  wrote  on  the 
ground."  It  is  true  there  was  no  need  of  his  going  to  school, 
and  3'et  he  honored  the  slow  process  of  teaching  b}^  keeping  his 
disciples  under  his  own  personal  teaching  for  three  years,  in  a 
thorough  theological  course,  superadded  to  their  literary  course 
which  the}r  had  already  received  in  the  schools  of  the  country  ; 
and  then,  finally,  after  his  resurrection,  he  gave  them  a  grand 
review  of  the  previous  three  years'  course.  It  is  true  there 
were  certain  persons  who  "  took  them  to  be  ignorant  and  un- 
learned men,"  but  in  this  thej'  were  greatl}r  mistaken.  Their 
writings,  —  I  appeal  to  their  writings,  —  these  show  beyond  con- 
troversy  that  the  prophets  and  apostles  were  men  of  letters,  or 
of  learning.  It  is  vain,  therefore,  to  plead  for  ignorance  of 
letters  from  any    scriptural  authority. 

It  is  agreed,  then,  on  all  hands,  that  an  educated  or  well-in- 
structed ministry  is  highly  needful.  In  fact,  we  must  have  such 
a  ministry.  The  leaders  especially  must  be  men  of  that  char- 
acter, and  it  were  well  that  learning  should  be  the  rule,  and  not 
the  exception,  for  the  great  body  of  our  ministers. 

Hence  arises  the  question,  Precisely  how  far  should  ice  aim  to 
have  a  learned  ministry?  Here,  doubtless,  there  is  some  differ- 
ence of  opinion  among  us.  Still,  we  are  agreed  upon  the  main 
points.  (1.)  We  are  agreed  that  a  minister  should  be  well 
versed  in  the  common  and  higher  branches  of  English,  and  in  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  English  language,  —  the  language 
in  which  he  is  to  preach.     But  it  should  be  remembered  that  a 


REV.    DK.    VAir/s    ESSAY.  47 

thorough  knowledge  of  English  implies  a  previous  knowledge 
of  Latin,  from  which  the  English  tongue  is  largely  derived. 
A  knowledge  of  Latin,  therefore,  becomes  necessary  to  the  min- 
ister.    In  this  we  are  generally  agreed. 

(2.)  We  are  generally  agreed,  further,  in  the  view  that  a 
knowledge  of  the  two  sacred  languages  —  the  Greek  and  the 
Hebrew  —  is  highly  important,  —  the  languages  which  God  has 
chosen  out  of  all  others  by  which  to  communicate  his  word  to 
the  world.  We  are  now  prepared  to  answer  the  question  how 
far  our  3'oung  ministers  are  to  study  before  entering  fully  upon 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  sacred  office.  They  are  first 
to  know  the  sciences  of  their  mother  tongue,  and  the  Latin, 
and,  finally,  an  ability  to  read  the  Scriptures  in  their  divine 
originals.  The  best  way  for  the  young  minister  to  do  this  is 
to  accomplish  faithfully  the  academical  course  of  study  first  at 
the  Conference  seminary  and  the  college,  or  university ;  and 
secondly,  the  professional  course  at  the  theological  school. 
This  is  precisely  the  rule  and  practice  adopted  by  the  churches  of 
other  Protestant  Evangelical  denominations,  —  such  as  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal,  the  Presbyterians  (old  school  and  new),  the 
Baptists,  and  the  Congregationalists  of  New  England  and  of  the 
country  generally.  Now  the  Methodist  churches  cannot  allow  of 
any  lower  standard.  We  must  have  an  equally  trained  ministry 
with  other  denominations  ;  first,  because  it  is  right  and  proper 
in  itself;  second,  because  our  churches  demand  it.  Our  people 
prefer  it ;  they  do  not  want  an  inferior  ministry  as  to  learning. 

To  this  rule  for  the  education  of  the  ministry  among  us  there 
would  be  many  exceptions,  as  there  are  many  exceptions  to  it 
in  the  practice  of  other  denominations.  The  rule  is  good,  never- 
theless, and  should  be  sacredly  adhered  to  in  all  possible  cases. 

To  this  view  of  ministerial  preparation  there  are  two  classes 
of  objectors.  The  first  class  is  the  lazy,  superficial  stude?its. 
Unfortunately,  we  have  some  such  young  men,  who  aspire  to  the 
office  of  the  ministry.  They  generally  wish  to  get  into  the 
ministry  in  the  least  possible  time,  and  with  the  least  possible 
Study.  They  dread,  above  all  things,  the  hard  study  and  the 
labor  of  years  implied  in  our  rule.  The  ministerial  life  of  such 
men  is  usually  short.     The  people  soon  find  them  out,  and  they 


48  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

pass  into,  obscurity  and  forgetfulness.  The  second  class  of  ob- 
jectors is  made  up  of  those  ministers  who  have  been  introduced 
into  our  ministry  at  too  early  a  stage  of  their  studies,  or  before 
the  establishment  of  our  colleges  and  theological  schools. 
These  brethren  are  ever  saying  to  the  young  men,  "  See  how  I 
have  done"  —  if  not  in  words,  yet  in  fact.  They  admire  the 
old  plan  of  going  from  the  workshop  to  the  pulpit,  and  profess 
that  schools  and  learning  are  of  small  account  in  making  a 
Methodist  minister.  Both  of  these  classes  are  interested  ob- 
jectors, and  hence  are  poor  judges  in  this  case.  The  first  class 
do  not  relish  the  labor  of  study,  and  the  second  class  take  our 
mode  of  ministerial  preparation  as  a  reflection  upon  them. 
Both  are  in  the  wrong.  The  gift  of  learning,  as  well  as  the 
gift  of  grace,  is  necessary  to  constitute  a  proper  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

In  conclusion,  we  would  render  thanks  to  Almighty  God,  who 
has  at  length  brought  the  Church  of  our  choice  into  the  right 
position  on  the  subject  of  the  "  education  of  the  ministry.'"  This 
centenary  year,  we  doubt  not,  will  show  to  the  world  that 
Methodism  is  fully  up  to  the  line  with  our  sister  Protestant 
churches  in  the  work  of  raising  up  a  learned  and  godly  ministry 
for  the  cause  of  Christ. 

May  God  abundantly  bless  this  Convention,  bless  all  its 
members,  bless  all  the  churches  represented  therein,  and  make 
it  a  powerful  instrumentality  for  the  advancement  of  Messiah's 
kingdom  in  the  earth  ! 

The  time  of  adjournment  having  arrived,  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  paper,  various  notices  were  given,  and  the 
Convention  adjourned  with  the  benediction  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Webber,  of  the  Maine  Conference. 


TUESDAY  EVENING   SESSION. 

The  services  were  commenced  in  the  evening  with  the 
singing  of  the  570th  hymn,  and  prayer  by  Rev.  John 
Howson,  of  the  Providence  Conference. 


MR.    J.    IIAYDEN'S   BEMABK8.  40 

Rev.  Dr.  Barrows,  from  the  business  Committee,  moved 
that  the  discussion  of  Dr.  Tail's  essay  be  made  the  order 
of  the  day  for  to-morrow  morning  at  9  o'clock,  which  was 
agreed  to. 

The  announcement  was  made  that  an  artist  of  this  city 
proposed  to  take  a  photographic  picture  of  the  members  of 
the  Convention  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  Wednesday,  grouped 
under  the  old  historic  elm  on  the  Common  ;  and,  on  motion, 
the  proposition  was  accepted. 

Mr.  Josiah  Hay  den,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference :  —  I  wisli  to 
speak  to  every  man  who  is  here  as  a  delegate  or  a  layman, 
and  I  wish  that  it  might  be  distinctly  understood  that  he 
is  a  lay  delegate.  This  will  unembarrass  him.  [Laughter.] 
We  want  to  encourage  you  to  speak,  for,  in  fact,  we  know 
some  things  the  ministers  never  did  know.  I  want  to 
encourage  our  lay  brethren,  and  I  want  to  say  to  them 
that  we  have  been  invited  here,  and  we  have  been  invited 
here  by  ministers  whom  we  love  as  we  do  our  eyes.  I  can 
say  that  I  love  Methodist  ministers  as  well  as  I  love  any 
beings  on  earth.  But  I  do  not  say  that  I  love  all  their  bad 
qualities ;  but  I  do  love  their  good  ones,  and  I  am  trying 
to  cover  up  their  bad  qualities. 

Never  mind,  brethren;  we  who  hear  you  are  of  the  con- 
gregation. And  in  reference  to  education,  I  thought,  as 
the  essay  was  read,  some  of  my  young  brethren  began 
to  quail.  You  began  to  quail  because  you  did  not  come 
up  to  that  standard  we  have  been  hearing  about.  Now, 
my  brethren,  if  you  wrill  come  up  with  your  Bibles  in  your 
hands;  if  you  will  come  to  us  from  your  knees,  from  your 
closets,  with  tears  in  your  eyes ;  if  you  will  come  to  us, 
learning  from  that  blessed  book,  the  Bible,  and  preach  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  preach  the  word  of  God,  we 
will  receive  it,  by  the  grace  of  God,  into  good  and  honest 
hearts,  and  it  will  bring  forth  fruit,  I  trust. 

Now,  then,  I  am  an  old  Methodist  layman,  so  old  that 
when  I  first  came  here  into  New  England,  some  forty-five 


50  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

years  ago,  there  was  scarce  a  Methodist  here,  sir.  I  was 
passing  through  one  of  these  towns  and  I  was  asked, 
"Are  you  a  Methodist?  What  kind  of  folks  are  they? 
Do  they  marry  ?  "     [Laughter.] 

Those  of  us  who  have  lived  a  great  many  years  know 
some  things.  I  only  speak  of  these  things  to  say  to  my 
lay  brethren  that  the  ministers  invited  you  here,  and  that 
they  did  it  in  good  faith.  They  felt  as  though  they 
wanted  our  help,  brethren,  and,  by  the  grace  of  God,  we 
will  give  it  to  them.  We  will  speak  as  freely  as  if  there 
was  not  a  minister  here.     [Laughter.] 

When  the  subject  of  circuits  was  up,  as  it  came  up 
this  afternoon  two  or  three  times,  I  felt  as  though  I  wanted 
to  say  something.  I  was  waiting  for  other  brethren  to 
speak. 

One  thing  more  I  want  to  say  just  before  I  sit  down, 
and  that  is  this  :  in  reference  to  the  ministers  I  want  to 
say  this,  that  we  do  know  something  more  about  some 
things  than  they  do.     [Laughter.] 

The  subject  has  come  up  whether  it  is  best  to  increase 
our  number  of  ministers  or  to  increase  the  number  of 
places  in  which  they  are  to  preach.  Now  I  know  a  Meth- 
odist minister  does  not  know  all  subjects  as  well  as  we 
can  and  do.  When  we  reduce  our  circuits  or  reduce  our 
districts,  what  is  the  consequence  ? 

The  preachers  are  reduced  perhaps  twenty.  The  con- 
sequence is  that  we  do  not  have  a  very  fair  representation 
then.  The  Presiding  Elder  says  in  reply  to  our  petition 
for  a  man,  "  I  have  not  got  such  a  man  on  my  district." 
Well,  can't  you  go  out  of  your  district  ?  Can't  we  have  a 
variety  ? 

Now  I  want  to  say  that  a  Methodist  minister  is  not  any 
ivorse  than  anybody  else.  I  am  acquainted  with  a  Con- 
gregationalist  preacher.  He  is  a  good  man,  an  educated 
man.  But  his  people  did  not  like  him,  and  some  of  them 
came  to  me  and  said,  "  Mr.  Hayden,  how  shall  we  get  rid 


REV.    DR.    CUMMIXGS'   E8SAT.  51 

of  our  minister?  Wo  are  tired  of  our  minister."  And 
they  asked  me  to  go  and  talk  with  the  Congregationalist 

minister  and  get  him  to  go  away.  I  went  and  talked  with 
him.  And  he  said,  "I  have  had  a  chance  to  go  as  chap- 
lain in  the  army."  "Well,"  said  I,  "I'd- go."  [Laughter 
and  applause.]     Said  I,  "  You  can  go  and  bo  a  chaplain 

two  years,  and  come  back  to  your  congregation,  and  they 
will  all  take  you  into  their  arms  and  think  that  you  preach 
better  than  they  ever  heard  you  preach  before."  "  But," 
said  he,  "my  people  could  not  bear  to  have  me  go  and 
leave  them.  They  love  me  so  dearly  that  I  cannot  bear 
to  leave  them,  for  they  love  me  to  an  individual;  they  all 
like  me.  and  I  cannot  bear  to  leave  them." 

But  when  he  was  told  afterwards,  by  a  committee  ap- 
pointed to  tell  him,  that  they  did  not  want  him  any  longer, 
he  would  not  believe  it.  [Laughter.]  With  all  his  learn- 
ing, he  did  not  have  good  common  sense.  [Prolonged 
applause  and  laughter.] 

Rev.  Dr.  Cummings,  of  the  New  England  Conference, 
and  President  of  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Middletown, 
Conn.,  now  presented  and  read  his  essay  on  the  Endow- 
ment of  our  Educational  Institutions. 

It  is  evident  that  the  discussion  of  this  subject  in  the  time 
assigned  is  impracticable,  and  that  only  a  few  general  remarks 
are  expected  from  me  as  introductory  to  its  consideration  by 
others. 

As  one  mode  of  expressing  its  duty,  it  may  be  said  the 
Church  should  strive  to  secure  the  highest  form  of  manhood. 
This  term,  used  in  a  general  sense  as  relating  to  the  race,  is 
the  true  Christian  civilization.  This  implies  that  the  human 
faculties  are  to  the  highest  degree  developed  and  rightly  di- 
rected. The  process  of  securing  this  development  and  direc- 
tion involves  the  true  idea  of  education. 

God  creates  the  mind,  bestows  its  faculties,  surrounds  it 
with  objects  for  investigation,  and  gives  the  motives  that  shall 
urge  to  exertion.     He  has  so  constituted  man  that,  in  search 


52  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

of  the  truth,  he  finds  a  higher  joy  than  in  its  possession.  He 
stimulates  man  to  action,  in  which  is  contained  the  existence, 
happiness,  and  perfection  of  our  being.  Knowledge  is  chiefly 
valuable  as  it  affords  a  stimulus  to  the  exercise  of  our  powers, 
and  the  condition  for  more  complete  activity.  The  great  ob- 
jects man  should  seek  are  his  perfection  and  happiness. 
These  coincide  and  constitute  but  a  single  end.  Pleasure  is 
the  concomitant  of  right  activit}-,  and  the  full  development  of 
the  human  faculties  is  in  proportion  to  their  capacity  of  free 
and  continued  action.  Knowledge  is  not  to  be  sought  as  a 
means  of  external  good  and  increase  of  power  in  society,  but 
as  a  means  of  mental  exercise,  through  which  the  soul  is  im- 
proved and  brought  nearer  to  God. 

It  is  in  the  work  of  cultivation  and  development,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  plan  of  God,  the  teacher  appears.  He  is  the 
most  direct  co-worker  with  God,  and  his  agency  is  absolutely 
essential  to  secure  to  the  race  that  power  and  culture  which 
are  to  God  especially  pleasing  as  a  part  of  his  plan. 

The  strange  sentiment,  that  "  Ignorance  is  the  mother  of 
devotion,"  was  once  received  with  sufficient  favor  to  pass  into 
a  proverb,  when  it  must  appear  to  an}?  reflecting  mind  that  it 
is  simply  absurd  to  suppose  that  ignorance  can  be  pleasing  to 
God,  or  that  the  development  of  the  powers  he  has  commanded 
us  to  improve  can  be  unfavorable  to  godliness.  It  is  true  that 
development  and  right  direction  have  not  always  gone  together, 
and  that  knowledge,  ever  a  mighty  power,  has  often  been  the 
instrument  of  evil.  But  such  in  no  case  or  degree  is  its  natu- 
ral tendency,  which,  from  the  very  nature  of  the  case,  must  be 
favorable  to  piety.  Some  degree  of  intelligence  is  absolutely 
essential  to  virtue  ;  for,  without  it,  no  man  can  know  the  will 
of  God,  or  perform  right  actions.  It  is  only  in  proportion  to 
the  extent  of  his  knowledge  that  man  becomes  capable  of  meet- 
ing the  claims  of  God's  love,  and  of  rising  to  that  degree  of 
moral  perfection  which  constitutes  his  chief  glory  and  secures  his 
rank  in  the  universe.  There  has  ever  been  a  close  connection 
between  the  Church  and  the  highest  institutions  of  learning. 
Nearly  all  the  oldest  and  most  influential  colleges  and  univer- 
sities were  founded  by  the  Church,  and  they  have  been  re- 


REV.    DR.    CI  M Mixes'    ESSAY.  53 

garded  as  though  established  for  the  promotion  of  her  objects. 
It  is  in  this  view  that  in  time  past  the  most  earnest  and  suc- 
cessful pleas  were  made  for  their  support. 

Our  fathers  built  colleges  "  pro  Christo  et  eccleshe."  They 
piously  said.  "  After  God  had  carried  us  safe  to  New  England, 
and  we  had  builded  our  houses,  provided  necessaries  for  our  live- 
lihood, reared  convenient  places  for  God's  worship,  and  settled 
the  civil  government,  one  of  the  next  things  we  longed  for, 
and  looked  after,  was  to  advance  learning,  and  perpetuate  it  to 
posterity." 

The  most  successful  colleges  of  the  country  are,  to  a  great 
extent,  really  religious  institutions.  Their  instruction  and 
discipline  are  under  the  care,  of  pious  men,  who  aim  to  secure 
the  consecration  of  the  souls  of  their  pupils  to  God,  and  to 
impress  on  them  that  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of 
wisdom.  In  every  other  age,  and  in  every  other  country,  by 
legislation,  not  subject  to  the  popular  will,  the  instruction 
of  the  people  has  been  committed  to  the  Church ;  but  in  our 
country  this  result  has  been  secured  by  a  tacit  and  general 
consent.  Nothing  but  religious  principle  has  been  able  to 
overcome  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  establishing  and  render- 
ing strong  the  higher  institutions  of  learning.  Such  are  the 
circumstances  of  our  country,  the  peculiarity  of  its  institu- 
tions, and  the  ascendancy  of  religion  in  education,  that  it  may 
be  considered  as  settled  that  between  the  Romanist  and  the 
Protestant  churches  the  education  given  in  the  highest  insti- 
tutions will  be  divided. 

But  while  admitting  that  the  Church  should  secure  a  Chris- 
tian civilization,  which  can  only  be  founded  on  general 
popular  education,  many  will  deny  that  the  endowment  and 
support  of  colleges  is  the  best  means  of  securing  this  result. 
But  the  whole  history  of  colleges  shows  that  they  have  been 
the  most  ellicient  instrumentalities  for  the  promotion  of  popular 
education.  It  is  an  error  to  suppose  that  in  education  the  law 
of  influence  is  from  beneath  upward.  It  is  directly  the  reverse. 
Colleges  have  taught  the  dignity  and  worth  of  mind,  and  ever 
furnished  a  stimulus  to  intellectual  improvement.  They  create 
a  necessity  for  classical  and  higher  English  schools,  and  these 


64  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

call  for  institutions  of  a  lower  grade.  They  place  a  high 
standard  of  culture  before  3Touth,  which  they  would  not  other- 
wise seek.  Where  academies  and  colleges  are  cared  for,  these 
common  schools  nourish  best.  Our  country  furnishes  abun- 
dant illustration  of  this  truth.  The  colleges  educate  the  minds 
that  educate  the  people.  All  educated  men  are  interested  in 
popular  improvement  and  refinement,  and  their  influence,  both 
unconscious  and  voluntaiy,  is  in  favor  of  education.  The  best 
elementary  books,  and  those  that  give  us  the  laws  of  the  lan- 
guage, as  well  as  the  more  difficult  and  abstruse  works,  have 
been  prepared  by  graduates  of  colleges. 

As  lovers  of  their  country,  educated  men,  knowing  that  re- 
publican prosperity  must  depend  on  knowledge  and  virtue,  are 
led  to  use  their  utmost  skill,  as  accredited  standards  of  truth, 
to  diffuse  them  through  the  community.  They  will  be  found 
to  be  the  open  and  fearless  champions  of  all  legislation  in  aid 
of  science  and  art  and  literature. 

There  are  in  the  United  States  more  than  fifty  thousand 
graduates  of  our  colleges  ;  the  aggregate  of  their  influence  in  the 
learned  professions,  and  in  the  various  departments  of  social 
influence,  is  beyond  all  calculation.  Take  from  any  period  of 
our  history  —  from  the  time  of  the  first  congresses  and  conven- 
tions that  put  forth  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  carried  our 
country  through  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  framed  the  Con- 
stitution —  the  men  educated  in  our  colleges,  and  }Tou  will  have 
removed  the  chief  source  of  power  and  of  good  to  the  State. 
If  colleges  were  removed,  the  whole  fabric  of  our  social,  politi- 
cal, and  religious  history  would  be  destined ;  education, 
politics,  and  religion  would  be  left  without  competent  guides  ; 
and  the  school,  the  Church,  and  the  State  would  be  without  a 
suitable  head.  College  education  forms  the  leading  minds  of 
the  community,  who,  by  their  talents  and  attainments,  will  ex- 
ert a  controlling  influence  over  the  State.  The  young  men 
who  go  forth  from  these  institutions  are  but  a  small  part  of 
the  youth  of  the  countiy,  but  they  will  soon  fill  the  larger  part 
of  the  posts  of  honor  and  power  in  the  Church  and  the  State. 
Next  to  home  influences,  the  college  does  most  to  shape  the 
character  of  those  who  will  be  the  ruling  spirits  in  every  de- 


KEV.    DR.    CUMMIXCS'   ESSAY.  55 

partment  of  social  and  public  life.  One  of  the  most  important 
facts  connected  with  the  power  of  colleges  is  its  permanency. 
It  perpetuates  the  magistracy,  the  ministry,  and  the  teachers 
in  the  inferior  departments  of  education. 

The  Church  has  been  greatly  indebted  to  colleges.  Ministers 
founded  them,  and  they  in  turn  have  sent  forth  able  and  faith- 
ful ministers.  The  many  able  and  successful  ministers  who 
are  not  graduates  are,  nevertheless,  benefited  by  colleges. 
Educated  men  have  furnished  the  helps  to  a  better  under- 
standing of  the  Scriptures.  They  have  clearly  presented  sjts- 
tems  of  doctrine,  and  brought  within  the  reach  of  the  people 
the  results  of  the  learning  of  centuries.  It  should  ever  be 
remembered  that  the  translation  of  the  Bible  into  the  English 
language  was  the  work  of  men  trained  in  colleges.  This  has 
been  a  glory  and  a  strength  to  the  nations  that  speak  the 
English  language.  In  the  early  history  of  our  country,  no 
class  more  powerfully  advanced  the  cause  of  freedom  than  the 
ministers  who  were  educated  in  the  universities  of  the  Old 
World  and  founded  the  first  colleges  in  this  land. 

This  fact  stands  forth  conspicuously  in  our  history.  It  was 
the  general,  mighty,  and  widely-diffused  influence  of  the  Prot- 
estant clergy  that  settled  those  policies  in  Church  and  State 
which,  at  this  hour,  give  strength  and  permanency  to  our 
united  country.  In  the  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  periods  of 
our  history,  it  was  the  clear  sound  of  the  trumpet  which  these 
men  gave  that  united  and  inspirited  the  colonies  in  their 
struggle  for  freedom  against  so  overwhelming  a  power  as  was 
arrayed  against  them. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  educated  men  have  exerted, 
and  will  continue  to  exert,  a  controlling  influence  over  the  in- 
terests and  the  destiny  of  our  country.  The  Christian  college 
has  been  and  will  be  the  source  of  a  Christian  civilization. 

It  is  an  important  question  what  part  our  Church  will  per- 
form in  developing  and  directing  this  power.  The  children  of 
our  church-members  will  be  educated.  Will  the  Church  provide 
for  them,  or  shall  they  seek  education  elsewhere?  It  is  true 
that  other  churches  will  gladly  educate  our  children  ;  so,  also, 
will  they  provide  for  them  religious  teachers,  and  receive  them 


56  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

into  Christian  communion.  As  we  deem  the  individuality  of 
our  Church,  as  a  branch  of  the  General  Church  of  Christ,  essen- 
tial to  secure  in  the  highest  degree  the  glory  of  God  and  the 
welfare  of  men,  we  ought  to  sustain  the  agencies  that  will  in- 
crease its  power  and  extend  its  influence.  Of  such  agencies, 
none  is  more  important  than  the  higher  institutions  of  learning. 
Inasmuch  as  these  institutions  are  generally  under  the  control 
and  patronage  of  religious  denominations,  considering  the 
position,  the  wealth,  and  numbers  of  our  Church,  her  sense  of 
duty,  indeed,  her  self-respect,  will  not  permit  a  necessity  for 
her  children  to  seek  from  other  churches  the  privileges  denied 
at  home. 

No  associations,  influences,  and  attachments  have  more  power 
over  the  future  of  young  men  than  those  under  whose  control 
the}r  come  in  these  institutions.  As  a  general  rule,  every  one 
who  expects  to  take  an  active  part  in  sustaining  the  interests 
of  his  Church  should  be  educated  in  her  institutions.  By 
pursuing  another  course,  and  obtaining  his  education  in  a  col- 
lege under  the  control  of  another  Church,  he  will  be  called  to 
make  a  great  sacrifice,  either  in  his  religious  convictions,  as 
has  been  too  often  the  case,  or  in  those  literaiy  associations  so 
highly  prized  by  all  educated  men.  A  loss  in  one  respect  or 
the  other  is  inevitable.  It  is  well  known  that  many  promising 
3-oung  men  have  been  drawn  away  from  our  Church  by  their 
literary  associations  and  the  influences  connected  with  their 
education. 

The  members  of  our  Church  make  no  sacrifice  when  they 
educate  their  children  in  her  institutions.  Our  academies  are 
more  numerous  and  powerful  than  others,  and  in  the  objects 
they  profess  to  accomplish  have  no  superiors.  Our  theological 
schools  will  soon  be  in  a  condition  to  furnish  to  young  men 
desiring  full  preparation  for  the  ministry  all  the  advantages 
that  young  men  of  other  churches  derive  from  the  oldest  and 
most  favored  institutions  of  the  land. 

We  have  a  sufficient  number  of  colleges  to  meet  all  the  wants 
of  the  Church  for  many  years  to  come ;  indeed,  great  benefit 
would  result  could  their  number  be  lessened  and  their  endow- 
ments concentrated. 


REV.    DR.    CUMMINGS'   ESSAY.  57 

Wc  have  one  college  so  situated  as  to  accommodate  all  New 
England,  and  parts  of  New  York  and  of  the  other  Middle 
States.  The  course  of  study  adopted  by  the  oldest  and  best 
colleges  is  pursued  in  this,  with  equal  rigidness  and  benefit, 
while  in  moral  and  Christian  influences  it  is  superior  to  any 
other.  The  Alumni  of  no  college  are  relatively  more  influen- 
tial than  those  who  have  gone  forth  from  this  institution. 

With  an  addition  to  its  endowment  of  a  comparatively  small 
part  of  the  funds  requisite  to  found  a  new  college,  it  will  ac- 
commodate double  its  present  number  of  students.  The  growth 
of  the  Wesleyan  University  has  been  unusually  rapid.  "While 
its  number  of  students  has  not  been  greatly  increased,  it  should 
be  remembered  that  several  colleges  have  been  founded  in 
what  was  at  first  its  patronizing  territory. 

The  property  of  the  University  now  amounts  to  more  than 
Three  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars,  and  is  ample  to  secure 
its  permanency  and  the  safety  of  all  funds  that  may  be  in- 
trusted to  it.  It  is  probable  that  its  present  endowment  is 
larger  than  its  founders  anticipated  would  be  realized  at  the 
present  time.  Such  an  endowment  at  the  period  and  in  the 
circumstances  in  which  they  laid  their  plans,  would  have  been 
considered  as  an  ample  provision  for  a  college.  But  in  the 
time  that  has  elapsed  changes  have  occurred  that  have  very 
greatly  increased  the  expenses  of  maintaining  a  college,  and 
the  great  increase  in  the  funds  of  other  colleges,  with  the  con- 
sequent increase  in  the  number  of  departments  and  facilities 
for  instruction,  has  created  a  necessity  for  similar  advantages 
in  our  college.  Its  resources,  through  the  confidence  and 
generosity  of  its  friends,  have  been  largel}'  increased  within  a 
few  years  past.  During  this  period  it  has  received  $130,000. 
A  fund  has  already  been  commenced,  with  a  good  prospect  of 
its  early  completion,  for  the  erection  of  a  Memorial  Chapel  to 
commemorate  the  deeds  and  heroism  of  those  of  the  Alumni 
and  students  who  sacrificed  their  lives  in  the  service  of  our 
country.  This  object  is  especially  commended  to  the  attention 
of  the  friends  of  the  college.  Several  of  the  leading  colleges 
have  made  arrangements  to  erect  chapels  or  other  buildings 
for  a  similar  purpose.  An  unusually  large  proportion  of  those 
5 


58        METHODIST  CENTENARY  CONVENTION. 

who  have  been  connected  with  this  institution  entered  the  array 
or  the  navy,  and  exhibited  a  degree  of  patriotism  and  valor 
not  inferior  to  that  of  any  other  class  of  citizens.  This  enter- 
prise is  especially  pleasing  to  the  Alumni,  and  has  been  re- 
ceived with  great  favor  at  the  annual  Conferences  and  by  the 
friends  of  the  institution  generally.  Such  accommodations 
as  this  building  will  furnish  are  greatly  needed  by  the  Univer- 
sity. This  chapel,  and  the  library  building  to  be  erected  this 
year,  will  make  a  most  important  and  pleasing  change  in  the 
appearance  of  the  college  grounds. 

During  this,  the  centenary  year,  we  trust  that  this  institu- 
tion, which  has  hitherto  made  so  large  a  return  for  the  gifts 
bestowed,  will  be  remembered  in  the  gifts  of  the  lovers  of  the 
cause  of  sound  learning  and  religion.  From  the  Church  at 
large,  for  several  years,  it  has  received  but  comparatively  a 
small  sum,  as  the  greater  portion  of  its  gifts  has  come  from 
a  few  friends.  We  trust  it  will  not  seem  presumptuous  if  we 
ask  with  confidence  for  Two  Hundred  and  Fift}^  Thousand  Dol- 
lars. The  college  needs  this  amount,  and  the  honor  and  the 
best  interests  of  the  Church  earnestly  demand  it.  It  would  be 
a  shame  if  this,  the  oldest  college  of  the  Church,  should 
be  left  to  suffer  from  want  of  funds.  Surrounded,  as  it  is, 
by  powerful  colleges  of  other  denominations,  its  resources 
should  equal  theirs,  and  meet  the  expectation  founded  on  the 
well-known  energy  of  the  Church  and  its  previous  interest  in 
the  cause  of  education.  Too  often,  we  fear,  the  college  seems 
at  a  distance  from  the  sjmipathies  of  the  Church  at  large. 
This  should  not  be  thus,  as  it  is  closely  connected  with  its  vital 
interests.  Hundreds  of  its  Alumni  are  in  the  ministry,  and 
others  are  scattered  through  the  land  in  positions  of  honor  and 
usefulness. 

There  is,  we  are  confident,  no  other  object  on  which  money 
can  be  bestowed  that  will  secure  so  permanent  and  widely-dif- 
fused influence  for  good.  The  men  whose  names  are  connected 
with  our  colleges  have  gained  a  fame  that  otherwise  they  could 
not  have  received.  He  who  connects  his  name  by  his  gifts  to 
the  cause  of  education  with  a  well-established  college,  or  with 
a  department  of  instruction  therein,  opens  a  fountain  from 


DISCUSSION  OF  DR.   CUMMINGS'    ESSAY.  59 

which  will  flow  perpetually  a  stream  of  good  influences  for  the 
right  and  for  the  improvement  of  the  race.  Successive  gener- 
ations will  pronounce  blessings  on  his  name,  and  eternity  alone 
can  reveal  the  results  of  his  noble  gifts. 

Our  University  has  accomplished  a  noble  work.  The  record 
is  before  the  Church,  and  the  names  of  those  dearly  beloved 
are  connected  with  it.  It  remains  for  the  Church  to  say 
whether  she  shall  receive  that  increase  of  resources  that  will 
enable  her  to  secure  greater  good  to  man  and  higher  glory  to 
God. 

Bev.  Dr.  Eddy,  of  Chicago,  was  called  for  and  re- 
sponded :  —  Mr.  Chairman,  this  call  is  most  unexpected. 
I  have  no  speech  upon  this  topic.  It  would  not  be  modest 
for  me  to  come  here  and  attempt  to  make  one.  I  can  en- 
dorse all  that  has  been  said  with  reference  to  the  claims  of 
your  great  and  noble  college  upon  the  warm-hearted  liber- 
ality of  Xew  England  Methodism.  I  have  met  its  Alumni 
far  out  in  the  West.  By  the  way,  when  I  get  on  this  side 
of  Ohio,  they  always  inflict  upon  me  this  song  :  — 


Far  out  upon  the  prairie, 
Where  many  children  dwell,"  etc. 


I  suppose  it  was  intended  to  represent  our  country  in  the 
West  as  an  unbroken  religious  desolation,  but  in  that 
broad  prairie  land  I  meet  the  Alumni  of  your  University. 
My  own  pastor  and  a  member  of  your  family  is  an  Alum- 
nus of  that  institution.  While  I  can  endorse  all  that  has 
been  said  in  reference  to  its  claims,  and  hope  that  they 
may  be  heeded  by  its  Alumni,  yet,  sir,  I  can  but  turn  my 
thoughts  for  a  moment  to  that  wonderful  nct-iuork  of  our 
seminaries,  which  is  covering  the  land  in  the  work  of  edu- 
cation. The  masses  are  having  their  eyes  turned  towards 
the  possibilities  before  them.  I  believe  before  God  this 
day,  sir,  that  one  of  the  most  responsible  duties  resting 
upon  the  Church  this  centenary  year  is  to  place  that  great 
net-work  of  seminaries  above  the  beggarly  and  precarious 


60  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

position  of  dependence.  [Applause.]  They  are  doing  a 
great  work  for  the  people  that  our  higher  institutions  can- 
not do.  They  are  taking  hold  of  the  boys  and  girls  of  the 
country,  and  they  are  turning  their  eyes  towards  the 
higher  institutions  of  the  land.  Oh,  how  God's  blessing 
is  upon  them!  How  their  halls  are  crowded,  not  only 
with  youth  seeking  education,  but  how  they  are  blessed 
with  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  work  of  sal- 
vation !  [A  voice,  saying  "  Amen  ! "]  Dr.  E.  replied, 
"  Amen  ! "  You  ought  to  have  said  it  louder,  whoever  you 
are.  [A  voice  behind  the  speaker  responded  "  AMEN  " 
in  stentorian  tones !  Turning  towards  him,  the  doctor 
continued,]  That  brother  was  out  West  once,  and  he  was 
under  my  training  four  weeks  !     [Laughter.] 

I  have  been  hearing  a  great  deal  about  the  demands  of 
our  people  for  a  ministry  of  higher  culture,  for  a  ministry 
of  thorough  culture.  I  say  to  our  people  in  the  North- 
West,  if  you  demand  brick,  you  must  provide  straw.  If 
you  demand  this  higher  ministerial  culture,  then  you  must 
see  to  it  that  the  means  to  provide  it  come  out  of  your  own 
pockets,  or  else  cease  this  clamor.  And  here  in  this  cen- 
tennial year  has  the  cause  of  ministerial  education  been 
distinctly  and  prominently  presented  to  the  pockets  of  the 
laymen  throughout  the  whole  Church.  And  they  are 
answering  it  sublimely.     God's  blessing  be  upon  them. 

Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  I  will  not  detain  this  audience 
longer.  Let  us  hear  from  practical  educators.  I  have 
never  been  one,  sir,  save  by  taking  my  place  some  six 
weeks  in  teaching  a  district  school.  It  will  be  only  a 
calamity  for  this  centennial  year  to  pass  over  without  the 
endowment  of  our  literary  institutions.  Let  us  make  them 
not  merely  respectable,  but  powerful.  Let  us  not  merely 
keep  them  alive,  but,  with  God's  blessing,  let  us  clothe 
them  with  semi-omnipotence. 

Rev.  Dr.  H.  Mattison,  of  N.  J.,  was  then  called  for,  and 
responded : — Mr.  Chairman,  I  was  not  present  to-day  when 


DISCUSSION   OF   DK.    CUMMIXGS'   ESSAY.  01 

an  invitation  was  extended  to  visiting  brethren  to  partici- 
pate in  your  deliberations,  and  I  am  not  sure  that  but  for 
this  especial  invitation  that  general  one  would  not  have 
reached  inc.  I  think  it  was  to  clergymen  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  whereas  I  am  only  a  probationer  on  trial.  [Laugh- 
ter.] As  to  this  question  of  practical  collegiate  education, 
I  ought  frankly  to  say  I  know  nothing  about  it  one  way  or 
the  other,  only  what  I  have  hoard.  [Laughter.]  I  think, 
however,  from  what  I  have  heard,  that  education  is  a  good 
thing,  and  that  it  can  do  no  man  more  good  than  a  minis- 
ter of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ !  I  have  not  quite  got  up  to 
the  point,  however,  the  New  England  point,  —  taking  the 
essay  of  this  afternoon  as  the  index  of  the  time  of  day 
here,  —  that  no  man  can  preach  the  gospel  effectually 
without  he  can  expound  the  Apocalypse.  That  is  a  pretty 
hard  book,  Mr.  President.  I  am  not  sure  that  all  the 
Greek  and  Hebrew  that  Dr.  Clarke  and  all  other  Hebraists 
ever  knew  would  enable  a  man  to  explain  the  Apocalypse 
and  make  it  perfectly  clear.  Now,  if  we  cannot  under- 
stand the  Queen's  English  without  having  the  Latin  first, 
because  that  is  down  among  the  "  roots,"  we  shall  have  to 
go  beyond  the  Latin  to  get  at  other  roots,  —  to  the  Hebrew 
for  its  roots,  and  I  do  not  know  but  to  the  Syriac,  Arabic, 
and  what  not,  down  to  the  cuneiform  letters  and  the  other 
languages  to  get  at  other  roots,  to  explain  the  English 
language.  I  am  discouraged,  sir,  if  it  is  required.  I 
would  say  two  or  three  plain  things,  however,  to  these 
brethren  of  New  England,  these  ministers  of  Christ,  — 
Methodist  ministers.  I  have  great  faith,  not  only  in  col- 
leges and  seminaries,  but  in  types  and  printing-presses. 
I  believe  that  the  hosts  of  error  are  forming  an  alliance 
on  this  soil,  offensive  and  defensive,  against  evangelical 
Christianity.  I  believe  they  are  not  only  intending  to  fly 
a  Christian  banner,  and  preach  down  Jesus  Christ  from  an 
open  Bible  and  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  but  to  do  it  also 
through  the  natural  sciences  and  through  the  literature  of 


62  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

the  land ;  to  do  it  mainly  by  printer's  ink  in  our  republic. 
I  conclude  that  we  want  plenty  of  educated  ministers  in 
the  next  generation,  because  I  think  there  will  be  work 
for  them.  I  believe  the  ministry  of  this  land  should  do  as 
the  ministry  of  former  ages  has  done.  I  go  into  your 
libraries  and  take  out  of  these  libraries  the  works  of  those 
men,  and  the  rest  would  hardly  be  worth  putting  under 
the  care  of  a  librarian.  I  find  that  a  great  part  of  them 
are  written  by  the  ministers  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
And  this  is  not  only  true  in  theology,  but  it  is  true  in  the 
sciences,  and  it  is  true  in  the  general  literature.  Ministers 
have  generally  written  the  language,  made  the  dictionary 
and  the  spelling-book,  and  translated  the  Bible.  But  this 
is  a  little  aside  from  what  I  was  about  to  say,  being  sur- 
prised, as  I  was,  by  the  call  for  me.  I  thought  of  Father 
Taylor,  a  few  years  ago,  when  he  sprang  upon  the  stage 
in  answer  to  a  call  for  him,  and  said,  "  What  do  you  want 
of  me  ?  "  and  I  thought  I  ought  to  say  something. 

I  think  the  ministry  should' be  cultivated  to  do  their 
part  in  furnishing  the  literature  of  this  country  for  the 
next  one  hundred  years,  in  writing  the  books  which  the 
people  read,  —  not  merely  the  general  literature,  but 
the  ministers  and  the  professors  should  furnish  the  text- 
books. They  should  write  these  books,  and,  when  there  is 
a  good  chance,  should  put  God  into  the  books,  —  yes,  into 
the  text-books,  until  the  very  stars  would  flash  the  light  of 
divinity  and  truth.  [Applause.]  Men  should  write  these 
books  who  would  put  God  right  in  with  the  lessons  to  be 
heard  in  the  recitation-room.  I  wish  I  could  say  that 
Methodism  hitherto  has  done  its  full  share  of  this  work. 
She  has  done  something.  Your  noble  institution  [turning 
to  Dr.  Cummings]  has  given  to  this  world  two  or  three 
text-books  on  philosophy,  chemistry,  logic,  and  a  work  on 
mathematics.  (Voices  saying,  "  Mattison's  Astronomy, 
Smith's  Mechanics,  and  Crooks'  books."]  Now,  since  you 
have   named  it,  I  will  advertise  it,  Yankee-like,  here  in 


DISCUSSION  OF  DIl.   OUMMINGS'   ESSAY.  G3 

Boston.  These  are  a  few,  but  what  are  these  among  so 
many?  I  doubt  if  you  can  number  up  a  dozen;  and  a 
Church  with  a  ministry  seven  thousand  strong  ought  to  be 
able  to  furnish  more  than  a  dozen  books  alter  we  have 
been  here  bo  many  years.  I  think  we  ought  to  furnish 
the  best  books ;  make  the  books  that  the  people  cannot  do 
without,  and  then  they  will  have  them.  Well,  that  is 
about  all  I  have  to  say  ;  but  I  will  throw  out  one  idea  more. 
Every  Methodist  preacher  ought  to  put  it  into  his  plan  of 
life  —  surely,  every  educated  man  —  to  write  at  least  one 
good  book  to  leave  behind  him  to  preach  when  his  tongue 
has  crumbled  into  dust.  One  good  book  !  I  know  it  has 
been  said  in  reply  to  this  hint,  "What  good  will  it  do? 
Nine  tenths  of  them  will  never  be  read."  Oh,  yes  !  it  will 
be  reproduced.  Some  things  will  blend  into  other  lives 
and  live  on,  as  the  Pope  said  that  John  Huss  did,  —  that  he 
lived  again  in  .Martin  Luther.  I  was  recently  in  the  house 
of  a  friend,  and  saw  on  his  table  a  book  of  three  hundred 
and  fifty  years  ago,  written  soon  after  the  time  of  the  in- 
vention of  printing. '  One  might  wonder  of  what  value  so 
old  a  book  to  a  learned  man.  But  said  my  friend,  "  That 
is  one  of  the  choicest  books  in  my  library."  That  man, 
who  had  been  dead  three  and  one  half  centuries,  was 
preaching  to  this  man  glorious  theological  truths,  and  he 
was  throwing  them  out  to  his  American  audience.  Write 
a  good  book.  If  nine  should  die  and  one  lives,  there  is 
one  good  book  left  behind  to  do  its  work  through  the 
years.  It  is  said  that  one  half  of  the  children  die  before 
they  are  five  years  of  age;  but  what  of  that?  Write  a 
goo'd  book.     [Great  applause.] 

I  want  to  add  this  one  thing  more,  though  it  will  not 
make  quite  such  a  good  place  to  stop  as  that  was.  I  made 
this  remark  at  the  Newark  Conference,  and  when  I  got 
through,  a  young  man  came  up,  a  fine  young  man,  and  he 
said,  "I  was  in  Germany,  and  heard  Professor  Tholuck; 
and,  among  the  things  he  said,  he  requested  that  every 


64  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

man  should  write  one  good  book."  That  was  the  young 
man  who  wrote  the  History  of  Rationalism,  and  I  would 
advise  you  all  to  buy  and  read  it.     [Applause.] 

Rev.  Dr.  Cooke,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference,  was  called  for, 
and  spoke  as  follows  :  —  Mr.  Chairman,  I  heard  my  name 
called.  The  gentlemen  are  under  a  mistake  ;  I  am  Dr. 
Vail  this  afternoon.  I  read  Dr.  VaiPs  essay.  I  do  not 
know  as  I  could  endorse  all  the  views  in  that  essay,  but  I 
freely  and  earnestly  endorse  most  of  them.  A  man  may 
be  very  useful  —  our  fathers  have  been  —  who  has  not 
classical  attainments.  But  that  such  men,  if  we  had  no 
others,  could  meet  all  the  demands  of  the  age  I  do  not  be- 
lieve. I  do  not  believe  that  Dr.  Mattison  or  any  other  doc- 
tor believes  it.  There  are  departments  in  theology  where 
the}7  are  needed.  You  know  that  Dr.  Mattison  has  been 
writing  a  work  on  the  Resurrection,  and  I  apprehend  that 
in  writing  his  work  he  had  to  avail  himself  of  the  labors 
of  other  men  who  were  more  thorough  scholars  than  him- 
self. I  do  not  believe  that  Dr.  Vail  intended  to  say  that 
no  man  can  be  a  good  minister  unless  he  understands  the 
classics.  Dr.  Vail  meant  to  say  that  a  man  would  be  a 
better  minister  by  having  a  classical  education.  Now,  sir, 
Dr.  Vail  having  said  so  much,  it  is  undoubtedly  the  mean- 
ing he  intended  in  the  essay,  and  I  do  not  know  as  he 
intended  anything  further. 

Rev.  Dr.  Butler,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference,  was  called  for, 
and  replied  :  —  Mr.  President,  my  line  of  duty  has  been 
in  a  very  different  direction  from  the  halls  of  colleges.  I 
should  consider  it  an  act  of  presumption  for  me  to  speak 
upon  the  question  before  the  house.  As  to  the  reference 
to  this  great  and  important  question  of  a  collegiate  edu- 
cation, I  feel  myself  entirely  inadequate  to  discuss  it. 

Father  Taylor,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference,  was  called 
for,  and  responded :  —  I  am  glad  you  have  hit  the  mark 
once  !  I  do  not  know  how  you  could  have  seen  my  coun- 
tenance.    I  do  not  know  how  you  could  have  seen  that 


DISCUSSION   OF   DR.    CUMMIXGS'   ESSAY.  65 

something  excellent  was  coming!  [Laughter.]  But,  Mr. 
President,  after  all  the  sport  infidels  have  made  about 
experience,  it  is  a  good  thing,  after  all.  I  have  had  great 
pleasure  in  hearing  these  learned  men,  because  they  are 
stating  their  experience.  They  are  the  mighty  lights  of 
the  day.  God  bless  them  !  and  where  there  is  room  for 
them  may  they  be  multiplied  more  and  more.  I  happened, 
fortunately,  to  have  experience  once.  I  came  to  this 
place  a  little  boy.  I  came  from  a  Spanish  man-of-war  ; 
never  saw  Yankee  land ;  was  a  Southerner,  a  Virginian  by 
birth,  and  the  sea  has  been  my  cradle  and  the  ocean  has 
rocked  it.  With  the  care  of  my  brethren  (for  I  happened 
to  be  an  unfortunate  one)  I  did  not  get  the  experience  that 
a  great  many  do,  for  some  men  are  covered  with  difficul- 
ties and  sores,  and  things  are  wrong,  and  everything  going 
to  destruction.  That  is  not  my  experience.  I  never  had 
much  trouble  in  my  life.  No  one  injured  me,  Arabs  or 
Egyptians,  for  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe  have  been 
my  place.  I  came  to  Boston,  —  Yankee  land,  —  and  I  was 
too  busy  in  my  life  and  had  too  much  to  do  (together  with 
some  little  want  of  opportunities)  to  pay  any  attention  to 
that  common  thing  which  has  got  now  to  be  so  cheap, — 
education ;  so  much  time  spent  at  schools,  so  many  pre- 
cious clays  and  nights  rubbed  away.  But  when  I  got  here, 
I  found  a  good  friend,  and  he  thought,  in  his  sagacity,  that 
the  little  fiddle  did  want  some  tuning  to  put  it  in  order, 
and  got  me  the  privilege  of  going  to  an  academy  to  get  an 
academic  education.  Well,  that  was  a  new  thing,  and  I 
went  to  studying.  I  believe  that  when  the  messenger 
came  for  me  I  was  working  at  four  languages !  I  set  at  it 
in  earnest.  I  devoted  twenty  hours  out  of  twenty-four ; 
I  slept  but  two,  and  in  the  other  two  had  to  attend  to  all 
the  other  concerns  of  life  to  keep  the  blood  moving.  And 
I  graduated.  The  principal  had  sometimes  to  take  me  all 
alone  to  hear  my  lessons,  and  he  always  spoke  well  of  me  ! 
I  spent  three  long,  tedious  months  getting  my  education, 


66  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

having  a  little  book  which  had  some  languages  in  it,  and 
which  I  got  to  liking  !     And  at  the   close  of  the  three 
months  there  seemed  to  be  some  little  difficulty  in  the  gal- 
lery [placing  significantly  his  finger  on  his  forehead],  and 
it  became  necessary  that  I  should  wander  out  a  little  and 
get  some  air.    .  I  spent  my  time  among  the  tombstones  in 
the  graveyards.     At  the  close  of  the  three  months,  I  was 
called  from  the  institution  to   go  to   Marblehead,  as   old 
Father  Pickering  sent  for  me  to  come  and  go  to  that  sta- 
tion ;  there  was  some  difficulty  in  the  church.     But  I  was 
to  have  liberty  to  go  to  the  academy  again  at  Newmarket. 
The  authorities  called  for  me,  and  I  laid  aside  my  books 
and  looked  wishfully  at  the  boys  and  girls  of  my  class  and 
went  away,  and  was  to  see  them  directly  after  Conference. 
But  when  Conference  came,  there  was  a  difficulty.     My 
gospel   father   said,   "  Well,  we   must   send   Edward,  for 
he  will  either  kill  or  cure  ! "  and  I  went  mournfully  from 
my  books.     The  Conference  sent  me  away  down  to  Cape 
Cod  and  the  islands  of  the  sea,  Nantucket  and  Martha's 
Vineyard.     They  promised  me  time   to   go  back  to  the 
school.      .      .      .      Two   years  ago   I   went  back  to   the 
place,  expecting  to  find  my  books,  the  boys  and  girls. 
When  I  got  there,  the  academy  was  gone,  and  they  had 
built  another,  and  that  was  gone ;  and  there  was  another 
one  built,  and  there  was  some  talk  of  that  one's  going.     It 
was  just  forty  years  from  the  time  I  went  to  the  time  I  re- 
turned to  that  academy.     It  is  natural  for  these  things  to 
remain  in  the  mind.     Of  course  I  had  nothing  else  in  my 
mind  but  to  meet  my  old  classmates,  and  I  arrived  there 
in  just  forty  years  to  see  the  old  place  again.     And  the 
news  got  out,  and  some  of  my  old  schoolmates  and  play- 
mates got  the  news,  and  they  came  to  meet  me.     They 
came  together,  but,  bless  me  !   wdiat  a  disappointment ! 
They  came,  gray-headed,  if  they  had  any  hair  at  all.     They 
came,  some  of  them,  toothless  and  wrinkled.     I  hadn't  the 
least  idea  of  them.     And  they  said,  "How  do  you  do?" 


DISCUSSION   OF   DK.    CUMMINGS*   ESSAY.  67 

and  I  said,  "Who  arc  you?  I  didn't  come  to  see  you;  I 
came  to  meet  the  boys  and  girls !  For  mercy's  sake, 
7  don't  look  as  old  as  this!" 

I  cannot  go  to  my  people  and  travel  as  I  could  once. 
Then  I  cued  not  for  storms  or  fatigue.  I  knew  little 
about  it ;  not  a  day,  year  in  and  year  out,. but  I  was  able 
to  go  ;  nothing  shook  me.  But  now,  to  be  miserable,  not 
able  to  manage  my  own  brain  !  But  never  mind,  I  got  the 
experience  and  must  cleave  unto  it.* 

Now,  Mr.  President,  I  have  got  to  the  end  of  the  history 
of  my  remarkable  travels  up  the  hill  of  science.  Farewell ! 
Peace  be  with  you.  And  if  we  cannot  meet  eventually 
here,  there  is  a  place  up  yonder.  I  have  a  home,  and  a 
family,  and  a  babe  there  now.  We'll  meet  in  that  goodly 
country.  God  bless  our  colleges ;  and,  if  I  was  only 
worth  millions,  I'd  run  my  hands  in  my  pockets  up  to  the 
elbows !  I  want  you  to  go  through  five  millions,  hit  or 
miss  !  [Great  applause.]  God  bless  you  and  your  schools 
and  your  mighty  men.  Peace  be  with  you.  I  will  meet 
you  on  the  other  side.  [Long-continued  applause.] 
.  It  was  voted  to  make  Dr.  Cummings'  essay  the  order  of 
discussion  at  10  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Adjourned  with  singing  the  Doxology,  and  the  bene- 
diction was  pronounced  by  Dr.  Cummings,  of  the  New 
England  Conference.  , 


WEDNESDAY   MORNING. 

The  President  took  the  chair  at  a  little  past  9  o'clock, 
and,  after  singing,  |  Dr.  Butler,  recently  from  the  new 
India  (  onference  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  now  of  the 
New  Emjland  Conference,  led  the  devotions  in  a  most  fer- 
vent prayer. 

The  journal  of  yesterday's  proceedings  was  then  read, 
corrected,  and  approved. 


68  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

The  following  letter  from  Bishop  Baker,  in  response  to 
an  invitation  from  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  was 
read  to  the  Convention  :  — 

Concord,  N.  H.,  June  2,  1866. 
F.  Rand,  Esq.  : 

Bear  Brother, —  Your  kind  invitation  has  been  received. 
It  would  afford  me  sincere  pleasure  to  join  in  the  deliberations 
of  the  Convention,  but  my  official  duties  will  prevent  it.  I 
shall  look,  however,  with  deep  interest  to  the  results  of  your 
body.  The  centenary  of  American  Methodism  suggests  various 
practical  measures  which  should  be  adopted  to  render  the  de- 
nomination more  effective  as  a  religious  agency.  And  while 
the  successes  of  the  past  call  for  devout  acknowledgment  to 
Almighty  God,  it  furnishes  no  occasion  for  remissness  and  in- 
action. The  mission  of  Methodism  does  not  require,  essen- 
tially, new  appliances  for  the  accomplishment  of  its  work,  but 
a  hoi}''  enthusiasm  and  an  entire  consecration  to  the  service  of 
God.  Methodism  religiously  is  a  spiritual  power,  earnest, 
living,  and  self-sacrificing,  and  this  spirit  should  pervade  all  her 
institutions.  The  centenary  year  finds  our  various  institutions 
in  a  state  of  comparative  prosperity.  Contrasted  with  the 
past,  our  progress  seems  marvelous ;  but,  measured  by  the 
demands  of  the  future,  our  present  position  is  far  from 
meeting  our  full  responsibility.  Our  educational  institutions 
especially  need  the  fostering  care  of  the  Church.  They  are 
already  accepted  as  approved  instrumentalities  for  carrying 
forward  our  work,  but  they  need  a  heartier  sympathy  and  more 
earnest  co-operation.  Our  institutions,  by  their  innate  forces, 
will  never  elevate  themselves  to  strong  commanding  positions. 
They  are  what  we  make  them.  There  are  piet}T,  wealth,  and 
enterprise  enough  in  New  England,  if  the}7"  could  properly  be 
directed,  to  meet  the  full  demands  of  the  age  and  denomina- 
tion, and  the  centenary  year  should  not  only  see  them  in  a 
financially  safe  condition j  but  endowed  with  ample  means  for 
the  accomplishment  of  their  great  work. 

It  seems  to  me  that  the  great  object  now  before  us  is  to 
arouse  our  people  to  the  tremendous  responsibilities  which  rest 
upon  them.     Our  class-leaders  should  feel  that  they  are  the 


BISHOP  baker's  letter.  G9 

sub-pastors  of  the  flock ;  our  stewards  that  they  are  mainly 
responsible  for  the  material  resources  demanded  to  sustain  the 
home-pastorate  with  respectability.  The  children  should  not 
only  be  provided  with  all  the  means  necessary  to  a  high  Chris- 
tian education,  but  early  introduced  into  the  circle  of  religious 
influence,  where  they  will  begin  to  feel  for  others,  and  act  for 
the  evangelization  of  the  world.  The  female  portion  of  our 
Church,  who  have  always  been  distinguished  as  furnishing 
some  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  Christian  piety  and  zeal, 
should  also  be  enlisted  in  those  Christian  activities  suited  to 
their  condition. 

"With  a  Church  alive  to  every  responsibility,  and  prepared  to 
respond  to  every  demand  upon  her  sympathy  and  aid,  we  may 
anticipate  much  for  our  beloved  Methodism. 

With  hearty  sympathy  for  the  work  in  which  you  are  en- 
gaged, 

I  am  yours  affectionately, 

Osmon  C.  Baker. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  communication,  the  following 
resolution  was  offered  by  F.  Rand,  of  the  New  England 
Conference,  and  adopted  :  — 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  regret  the  necessary  absence  of  our 
beloved  Bishop  Baker,  and  that  we  take  this  occasion  to  assure 
him  of  our  increasing  esteem  and  affection,  and  that  our 
pra}-ers  will  attend  him  on  his  far  and  toilsome  journey  in  the 
work  of  the  Church.  "We  also  beg  him  to  tender  in  our  name 
an  affectionate  greeting  to  our  brethren  on  the  Pacific  slope. 

The  chair  presented  the  following  communication  from 
two  of  our  New  England  representatives,  now  laboring  in 
South  Carolina  —  namely,  Rev.  T.  W.  Lewis,  of  the  New 
England,  and  Rev.  A.  Webster,  of  the  Vermont  Confer- 
ence, which  was  read  and  listened  to  with  much  satisfac- 
tion by  the  Convention,  hearty  responses  being  elicited 
from  the  delegates  to  the  noble  sentiments  it  con- 
tained:— 


70  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  May  24,  1866. 
To  the  New  England  Methodist  Convention  : 

Dear  Brethren,  —  It  was  with  pleasure  that  we  noticed  the 
call  for  the  meeting  of  your  Convention,  and  with  regret  that 
the  pressing  nature  of  our  work  here  will  not  allow  either  of 
us  the  pleasure  of  complying  with  the  invitation,  gratefully 
received,  of  attending  as  delegates  at  large.  We  must  be 
allowed  still  to  feel  that  we  are  of  New  England.  We  have 
an  affection  for  those  "  cloud-capped  granite  hills"  that  threw 
their  shadows  over  the  homes  of  our  childhood,  those  fountains 
of  living  waters,  fertile  vales,  and  flowing  streams  ;  but,  above 
all,  for  those  unfettered  thoughts,  unbending  patriotism,  civil 
and  religious  liberty ;  its  faith  in  God,  noble  vindication  of 
equal  rights,  and  earnest  efforts  for  the  elevation  and  progress 
of  our  common  humanity,  that  render  the  memory  of  New 
England  so  dear  to  us. 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  refer  to  the  record  of  New  Eng- 
land Methodism  in  the  great  struggle  for  human  freedom, 
which  has  resulted  in  the  emancipation  of  millions  recently 
in  bondage  in  our  own  country,  that  now  stands  confessedly 
approved  of  God  and  the  enlightened  judgment  of  the  world. 
In  the  light  of  human  progress,  and  the  indelible  records  of 
history,  those  anti-slavery  sentiments  will  no  longer  be  re- 
garded as  the  freaks  of  wild  fanaticism,  but  the  vindication  of 
the  principles  of  eternal  truth  and  justice.  But,  in  the  position 
we  occupy  here,  we  see  the  elements  in  motion  for  an  approach- 
ing moral  conflict,  on  the  great  question  of  equal  rights,  that 
will  shake  the  world  with  the  magnitude  of  its  throes,  and  we 
are  looking  hopefully  to  New  England  to  lead  the  van  in  this 
onward  march  of  human  progress,  with  the  same  unflinching 
fidelity  to  the  right  that  has  given  her  so  proud  a  record  in 
other  great  conflicts  for  God  and  humanity. 

In  our  view,  the  course  to  be  pursued  in  the  work  with  which 
we  are  intrusted  here  is  clearly  indicated  b}'  the  providence 
of  God,  and  the  immutable  principles  of  our  common  Christi- 
anity, as  well  as  by  the  genius  of  our  beloved  Methodism  ;  and 
God  forbid  that  we,  or  an  angel  from  heaven,  should  preach 
any  other  gospel,  save  that  which  offers  salvation,  and  the 


LETTER   OF   MESSES.   LEWIS    AND    WEBSTEB.  71 

cherished  privileges  of  the  Christian  Chv/rch  to  all  without  di*- 
tion  of  color.  The  great  work  of  spreading  scriptural  holi- 
ness over  the  lace  of  the  earth  should  know  no  sectional  dis- 
tinctions of  North  or  South,  and  no  personal  ones  of  white  or 
black,  but  all  should  be  considered  as  one  in  Christ  Jesus. 

The  great  mass  of  the  truly  loyal  people  of  this  section 
approve  of  our  position  in  this  regard,  and  wherever  we  can 
reach  them  with  church,  organizations  and  privileges,  they 
flock  under  the  old  banner  of  "NVesleyan  Methodism,  as  un- 
furled by  the  old  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Our  theolog- 
ical school  prospers  beyond  our  most  sanguine  expectations. 
The  students,  some  twenty  in  number,  are  making  fine  progress 
in  their  studies,  and  we  have  fields  opening  for  them  where 
they  might  all  be  immediately  emploj'ed,  if  only  now  fitted  for 
the  work.  Many  of  them  have  been  looking  forward  to  the 
great  work  of  preaching  Christ,  and  praying  for  the  time 
when  the}'  should  be  free  from  the  disabilities  of  slavery,  and 
allowed  to  follow  the  promptings  of  God's  Spirit  and  the 
earnest  desires  of  their  hearts  for  more  extensive  fields  of 
usefulness. 

In  our  work  here  we  wish  to  feel  that  we  are  in  sympathy 
with  New  England  Methodism,  and  feel  the  beatings  of  her 
great  heart  throbbing  in  harmony  with  the  pulsations  of  our 
denominational  Life  and  labors  here.  We  are  greatly  needing, 
at  this  time,  the  publication  of  a  paper  here  that  fearlessly 
vindicates  the  right.  If  in  the  approaching  autumn  such  a 
paper  can  be  started  in  the  interests  of  our  cause,  may  we  not 
hope  that  our  brethren  in  New  England  will  give  us  the  aid 
and  patronage  that  may  be  needful  to  render  the  enterprise 
efficient  and  permanent?  We  wish,  by  some  means,  to  have 
South  Carolina  attached  to  New  England,  and  then  we  should 
be  more  hopeful  for  her  future  development  and  progress. 
The  denominational  strength  and  unity  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  renders  it  more  powerful  to  effect  this  than  any 
other  organization  in  our  country,  and  that  is  one  reason  why 
the  enemies  of  national  Union  and  the  friends  of  sectional  iso- 
lation and  State  sovereignty  are  so  much  opposed  to  what  they 
call  our  encroachments  upon  this  Southern  domain.     All  of 


72  METHODIST  CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

the  so-called  independent  churches  can  readily  be  sectionalized 
here. 

You  have  our  sympathy  and  best  wishes  in  the  great  inter- 
ests 3Tour  deliberations  are  designed  to  serve,  and  be  assured 
we  are  with  }-ou. 

"  Amid  the  scenes  where  spirits  blend, 
Where  friend  holds  fellowship  with  friend; 
Though  sundered  far,  by  faith  we  meet 
Around  one  common  mercy-seat." 

Under  the  present  management  of  our  national  affairs,  we 
are  conscious  of  a  growing  intensity  of  hatred  against  our 
cause  here.  The  Southern  people  are  as  jealous  of  their 
supreme  control  over  their  servants  of  to-day  as  their  slaves 
of  yesterday.  The  only  redemption  for  the  South  is  free  men, 
free  labor,  free  schools,  free  speech,  free  press,  and  a  free  gos- 
pel ;  and  the  change  to  be  thereby  produced  will,  of  course,  dis- 
turb these  pro-slavery  elements,  and  cause  no  little  commotion  ; 
but  "  by  reason  of  breakings  they  shall  be  purified."  We  re- 
gard the  Reconstruction  Report  of  the  New  England  Confer- 
ence, and  the  resolutions  of  the  South  Carolina  Mission 
Conference,  as  defining  our  only  tenable  position,  and  the  one 
that  God  approves  ;  and  "  we  are  resolved  to  fight  it  out  on  this 
line"  with  weapons  not  carnal,  but  mighty  through  God,  to 
the  pulling  down  of  strongholds  ;  and,  by  the  help  of  God  and 
the  friends  of  down-trodden  humanity,  the  civil  ?nd  religious 
interests  of  the  truly  loyal  here  must  never  be  made  the  help- 
less victims  of  the  lust  and  avarice  of  those  who  would  sacri- 
fice country  and  humanity  at  the  shrine  of  their  political  and 

personal  ambition. 

Yours  fraternally, 

T.  Willard  Lewis, 
Supt.  of  M.  E.  Churches  in  South  Carolina. 

Alonzo  Webster, 
Pastor  of  M.  E.  Churches,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

The  Chair  announced  as  the  order  of  the  hour  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  essay  read  yesterday  from  Dr.  Vail. 
Rev.  B.  W.  Gorham,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference :  —  I  went 


DISCUSSION   OF   1)17.    VAH/8    ESSAY.  73 

Lome  at  the  close  of  the  reading  of  that  essay  on  minis- 
terial education  and  pat  down  a  few  thoughts.  I  want  to 
say  that  there  are  several  embarrassments  which  1  feel 
very  much  in  saying  what  I  am  about  to  say  on  this  sub- 
ject. I  feel  that  we  ought  to  say  something  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  reading  of  that  address.  Courtesy  to  the 
author  of  the  essay  requires  as  much  as  that.  I  feel  that 
the- dignity  of  the  essayist  and  the  dignity  and  importance 
of  his  theme  demand  it.  It  seems  to  me,  also,  that  if  there 
is  anything  to  be  said  in  the  way  of  noticing  the  essay, 
the  speaker  should  utter  his  opinion  plainly  and  honestly, 
pro  or  con.  And  yet  there  is  another  embarrassment,  and 
that  is  that  the  author  of  the  essay  is  not  here,  except  as 
he  is  supposed  to  be  personified  by  Dr.  Cooke.  It  is  em- 
barrassing to  note  what  we  may  deem  the  faults  or  follies 
in  a  production,  when  that  production  advocates  a  cause 
we  are  really  in  favor  of,  because  the  speaker  is  very  likely 
to  be  misunderstood.  Nevertheless,  I  want  to  say  these 
following  things  :  I  doubt  the  position  that  it  is  necessary 
that  a  man  should  be  able  to  give  a  satisfactory  and  con- 
clusive exegesis  of  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis,  and  the 
book  of  Daniel,  and  of  the  Apocalypse,  before  he  is  fitted 
to  be  a  successful  minister  of  the  Church  of  God.  I 
doubt  if  there  are  a  dozen  men  in  this  Convention  to-day 
who  can  satisfy  their  own  minds,  to  say  nothing  about 
others,  in  any  exegesis  on  either  one  of  these  books.  I 
doubt  again  if  the  intercourse  between  Christ's  disciples 
and  himself  for  three  years  of  his  public  ministry  amounted 
to  a  theological  training  of  those  men  according  to  the 
idea  of  the  essayist,  and  of  a  theological  school  as  defined 
in  that  paper.  I  doubt  again  if  the  day  of  Pentecost  can 
be  called  a  review  of  those  three  years'  studies  without  a 
most  childish  play  upon  words.  I  reckon  that  "  pentecost " 
has  another  meaning,  is  capable  of  another  and  a  graver 
interpretation.  Would  to  God  we  might  have  it  repeated 
here.     ["  Amen  !  "  was  responded  in  various  parts  of  the 


74  METHODIST   CENTENARY    CONTENTION. 

house.]  I  doubt  if  the  English  language  is  incapable  o 
being  thoroughly  mastered  and  effectively  used  by  any 
man  until  that  man  has  made  himself  acquainted  with  the 
Latin.  I  doubt  that.  I  doubt  the  statement  that  the 
great  want  of  the  ministry  to-day  is  a  higher  style  of  edu- 
cation ;  that  the  great  want  of  the  ministry  to-day  is  a 
higher  style  of  education.  I  want  you  to  understand  the 
word  "  the  ;  "  that  "  the  "  great  want  of  the  ministry  is  a 
higher  style  of  education.  I  doubt  that  a  higher  style  of 
education  is  a  pressing  want  of  the  ministry.  But  I  be- 
lieve in  my  soul  that  the  great,  the  crying  want  to-day  is 
a  deeper  baptism  of  love,  of  pure  love  to  God  and  every 
soul  of  man.  It  cannot  be  pleaded,  Mr.  President,  be- 
loved fathers  and  brethren,  that  New  England,  to-day,  is 
behind  any  other  section  of  the  country  in  the  style  and 
measure  of  the  education  and  culture  of  her  ministry. 
And  yet  we  must  submit  to  the  saddening  truth,  that  while 
other  sections  of  the  country  are  being  refreshed  and  wa- 
tered around  us,  New  England,  like  Gideon's  fleece,  is  com- 
paratively dry.  We  wait  an  inauguration  of  the  great  re- 
vival in  New  England.  It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  a  fact 
here,  a  providential  fact  here,  at  which  we  ought  rever- 
ently to  pause,  —  a  fact  that  should  bring  us  to  our  knees, 
and  to  our  faces,  and  should  help  us,  while  we  study  more, 
to  pray  more,  —  a  great  deal  more. 

Bev.  Dr.  True,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference:  —  As  Dr.  Vail 
is  not  here  to  speak  for  himself,  I  think  that  it  ought  to 
be  said  that  we  certainly  could  not  understand  a  thought- 
ful man  and  a  learned  man  like  Dr.  Tail  to  say  that  a  man 
in  the  ministry,  however  learned,  should  be  able  to  give  a 
perfect  interpretation  of  the  prophecy  of  Daniel  or  the 
Apocalypse  of  St.  John.  We  must  understand  him  merely 
as  indicating  that  we  ought  to  know  how  to  render  the 
words  used  into  our  own  tongue.  For  we  must  all  know 
that  prophecy,  in  regard  to  many  things  future,  is  not  to 
be  understood  precisely.     Its  design  is  to  lead  the  Church 


DISCUSSION   OF   DK.    VAIL'S   ESSAY.  75 

to  the  expectation  of  something;  to  be  on  the  look-out, 
and  when  the  event  transpires,  then  we  see  the  com- 
plete correspondence  of  the  event  with  the  mystical 
figures,  and  there  stands  out  a  bright  manifestation  of  the 
divinity  of  our  holy  religion.  Now  the  prophets  them- 
selves did  not  understand  what  the  spirit  that  was  in  them 
meant.  They  did  not  understand  this  ;  and  prophecy,  in 
this  respect,  is  very  much  like  metaphysics,  and  ought  to 
be  so  understood  everywhere,  if  we  accept  the  Scotch- 
man's definition  of  metaphysics,  which  was  that  meta- 
physics is  when  "  the  hearers  dinna  understand  what  the 
man  means,  and  he  dinna  understand  himself."  I  hope  the 
Church  will  be  able  to  understand  that  they  cannot  under- 
stand the  three  first  and  the  last  chapters  of  the  Bible.  I 
think  it  is  time  for  us  to  understand  that  ive  cannot  under- 
stand it.  Pardon  me  if  I  give  you  a  slight  illustration. 
When  I  was  a  boy,  I  preached  at  Salem.  I  preached  on 
this  text:  "  And  the  great  day  of  His  wrath  is  come ; "  and 
God  was  with  me,  though  I  misunderstood  my  text,  and 
sinners  were  converted.  I  preached  on  the  opening  of  the 
sixth  seal,  and  I,  in  my  simplicity,  supposed  that  it  meant 
the  end  of  the  world,  whereas  we  all  see  that  it  was  the 
opening  of  the  sixth  seal,  and  after  that  comes  the  seventh 
seal,  with  the  trumpets  and  the  vials  in  the  hands  of  I 
know  not  how  many  angels;  and  after  that  comes  the 
great  final  day,  when,  in  the  apocalyptic  vision,  he  saw  the 
great  white  throne  and  Him  who  sat  thereon,  before  whose 
face  the  heavens  and  the  earth  fled  away.  It  was  but  the 
opening  of  the  sixth  seal ;  and  I  would  that  I  might  im- 
press it  on  every  mind  this  morning  that  we  are  to  take 
this  mysterious  view  of  the  greater  part  of  Revelation,  for 
out  of  that  I  see  men  are  getting  all  sorts  of  superstitions 
and  absurdities  respecting  the  end  of  the  world  and  the 
doom  .>f  mankind.  I  defend  Dr.  Yail  on  this  point.  Wo 
might  as  well  understand  that  we,  to  be  properly  qualified 
for  ministers,  should  so  far  understand  the  original  Scrip- 


76  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

tures  as  to  be  able  to  tell  what  a  word  signifies ;  if  a 
trumpet,  a  trumpet ;  if  an  angel,  an  angel ;  if  a  wheel,  a 
wheel,  and  still  to  render  it  in  the  proper  words. 

[Rev.  Pliny  Wood,  of  the  JST.  E.  Conference,  here  called 
for  the  reading  of  the  exact  words  of  the  essay  on  this 
point,  which  were  read  by  the   Secretary.] 

Rev.  Dr.  Coggeshall,  of  the  Providence  Conference :  — 
Mr.  President,  I  listened  to  that  essay  yesterday  very  care- 
fully and  with  profound  interest,  and  although  I  am  an  ad- 
vocate of  ministerial  education,  and  have  recently  said 
some  very  hard  and  severe  things,  which  have  rather  made 
my  brethren  wince,  yet  I  will  say  that,  although  I  accept 
of  the  general  scope  and  design  of  that  essay,  I  do  not 
accept  of  all  its  statements.  They  are  not  correct,  they 
are  not  true,  and  the  trouble  is  that  the  facts  are  against 
them.  Now,  sir,  Dr.  Tail  is  an  enthusiast  in  his  depart- 
ment, a  man  of  great  learning,  comprehensive  knowledge, 
and  has  devoted  himself  to  this  one  work.  But  if,  like 
some  of  us,  he  was  called  to  take  the  rough-and-tumble  of 
the  itinerancy,  hold  class-meetings,  and  take  part  in  the 
conflict,  he  would  not  think  as  he  does.  Now,  sir,  he  re- 
minds me  of  another  thing.  The  elder  Sheridan  really 
was  a  great  enthusiast  in  the  matter  of  oratory.  Hence 
he  was  always  incessantly  lecturing  the  whole  English 
nation,  down  to  the  substratum,  on  the  neglect  of  oratory. 
"Now,"  says  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  "I  really  believe  that  if 
the  crops  should  fail  for  three  years  in  succession,  Sheridan 
would  insist  that  it  was  owing  to  the  neglect  of  oratory  ! ,J 
[Great  laughter.]  Now,  when  I  have  been  in  Concord,  I 
have  been  interested  to  see  his  kindling  eye  and  pleasing 
smile  as  somewhere  he  sat  down  to  the  Hebrew  Bible 
and  showed  you  how  his  classes  had  been  through  the 
prophecies  of  Daniel  and  Zechariah,  and  I  have  been  inter- 
ested to  see  how  perfect  he  is  in  this  matter.  I  hope,  Mr. 
Chairman,  to  be  present  next  week,  and  further  assist  him 
in  that  particular  business. 


DISCUSSION    OF   DK.    VAIl/S    ESSAY.  77 

What  are  some  of  the  facts  in  the  case?  As  we  look 
back,  we  sec  that,  although  Methodism  took  up  its  sublime 
march  from  the  gates  of  the  university,  still  there  were  co- 
laborers  who  came  from  another  class  in  society.  And 
those  co-laborers  were  among  the  most  profound  theolo- 
gians, the  ablest  preachers,  and  most  successful  evangelists 
that  the  world  ever  has  seen.  But  they  were  not  educat- 
ed in  the  schools.  Look  at  Thomas  Olivers,  a  man  who 
was  extremely  deficient  in  his  early  advantages,  but  who 
so  far  educated  himself  as  to  be  among  the  best  preachers 
that  Great  Britain  saw  in  the  last  century.  He  was  for 
years  curator  of  Mr.  Wesley's  press  in  London,  and  a  man 
who  was  the  author  of  that  admirable  hymn, — 

"  The  God  of  Abraham  praise,"  etc., 

—  such  a  lyric  as  even  Watts,  Newton,  Cowper,  or  Mont- 
gomery could  never  equal.  Look  at  another,  Thomas 
Walsh,  born  and  bred  an  Irish  Papist,  who,  after  a  long  in- 
ternal struggle,  at  last  emerged  into  the  glorious  liberty  of 
the  gospel.  He  became  a  preacher  of  the  Wesleyan 
society,  and  without  an  academic  education  could  converse 
alike  in  English  or  Irish  in  the  crowded  congregations  in 
London  or  Dublin,  and  was  so  profoundly  read  in  the 
originals  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  that  Mr.  Wes- 
ley says,  if  he  mentioned  a  word  in  either  of  them,  Thomas 
Walsh  could  tell  him  where  it  was  to  be  found,  and  how 
many  times  it  occurred,  and  its  particular  meaning  in  every 
place  in  the  Bible ;  and  such  a  profound  master  in  biblical 
learning  he  never  knew,  and  never  expected  to  know 
again  !  I  believe  there  has  not  risen  since  such  a  man  as 
Thomas  Walsh.  Other  learned  men  carry  their  learning 
largely  in  their  books,  —  he  carried  his  in  his  head. 

Speaking  of  Thomas  Walsh,  it  seems  to  me  that  the 
Irish  mind  is  especially  adapted  for  the  acquisition  and 
mastering  of  the  languages  ;  and  the  Church  of  Rome,  in 
her  ministry,  turns  this  to  account,  and  I  hope  we  shall  do 


78  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

the  same.  And  further,  when  we  get  to  our  American 
ministry,  we  find  it  the  same.  Look  at  Jesse  Lee,  who,  for 
five  years,  was  chaplain  of  both  Houses  of  Congress,  during 
the  most  critical  portion  of  our  history, —  a  man  who  was  the 
first  historian  of  American  Methodism,  and  whose  peculiar 
glory  is  that  he  was  the  founder  of  New  England  Meth- 
odism, one  of  the  best  ministers  our  country  ever  saw, 
and  yet  certainly  without  this  kind  of  training  that  Dr. 
Vail  tells  us  is  indispensable.  Where  is  the  man  amongst 
us  who  will  dare  to  stand  up  and  say,  "  I  am  equal  to  Jesse 
Lee"? 

In  1791,  Bishop  Asbury  sent  the  Rev.  George  Roberts 
into  New  England.  On  a  certain  occasion  he  was  present 
in  the  court-house,  in  New  London,  to  listen  to  a  preacher 
of  universal  redemption.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon,  Mr. 
Roberts  rose  up,  as  having  something  to  say  in  reference  to 
the  subject  put  forth  ;  and  while  he  was  answering  that 
preacher  of  heresy,  seventeen  persons  were  converted,  one 
of  whom  was  Rev.  Epaphras  Kibbe,  a  resident  in  that  city, 
who  died  a  few  years  ago,  in  Chelsea,  at  eighty  years  of  age. 
Now,  I  will  say  that,  although  I  have  endeavored  not  only 
to  make  myself  the  master  of  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis, 
but  also  of  all  that  Moses  ever  wrote,  and  David's  lyrics, 
etc.,  yet  I  will  say  that  I  would  give  all  my  learning  to  ac- 
complish such  a  thing  as  that. 

Rev.  Charles  Noble,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference :  —  With  all 
that  has  been  said  in  the  discussion,  still,  to  my  comprehen- 
sion, the  most  important  point  in  the  essay  has  not  been 
touched  ;  and  that  is  the  clause  in  regard  to  the  inspiration 
of  the  Scriptures.  I  think  the  sentence  in  relation  to  that 
matter  in  the  essay  implies  clearly  this  statement :  that  the 
inspired  Scriptures  are  to  be  found  only  in  the  original 
Greek  and  Hebrew.  [The  words  of  the  essay  on  this  point 
were  called  for  and  read.]  I  think,  then,  that  the  plain  in- 
ference from  that  statement  is,  that  the  inspired  Word  of 
God  is  to  be  found  only  in  the  original  Hebrew  and  Greek 


DISCUSSION   OF   DR.    VAIL's    E8SAT.  79 

in  which  the  Scriptures  were  written.  Then,  if  this  is  the 
fact,  we  are  all  in  the  dark  up  to  the  present  hour, —  the 
world  is  involved  in  a  greater  than  Egyptian  darkness;  be- 
cause when  we  open  the  Bible  in  our  present  translation, 
and  meditate  upon  its  instructions,  we  think  all  the  time 
that  we  are  reading  the  Book  of  Cod's  inspiration,  and  our 
trust  and  confidence  are  in  the  teachings  of  this  book,  be- 
cause it  is  the  inspired  Word  of  God. 

But  if  the  statement  of  the  essay  be  true,  that  the  in- 
spiration is  to  be  found  only  in  the  Hebrew  and  Greek,  we 
are  laboring  under  a -great  mistake,  and  the  work  in  which 
the  American  Bible  Society  and  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  are  engaged  is  a  work  of  supererogation. 
Yes,  worse  than  this,  because  they  are  blinding  the  thou- 
sands and  millions  of  the  human  family  that  receive,  with- 
out note  or  comment,  this  book  as  the  Book  of  God's  in- 
spiration, as  the  revealed  oracle  of  divine  power.  This 
objection  I  had  to  the  essay,  because  it  teaches  what  I  con- 
ceive to  be  a  great  heresy.  And  if  the  people  generally 
believe  this  fact,  that  there  is  no  inspiration  in  our  present 
version,  nor  in  any  translation  of  the  Bible,  we  have  no 
sure  and  certain  guide.  Instead  of  raising  up  ministers  to 
preach  the  gospel,  as  they  preach  now  and  are  instructed 
to  preach,  I  consider  it  the  bounden  duty  of  Dr.  Vail,  and 
others  equal  to  him  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  and 
Greek,  to  raise  up  men  who  are  qualified  to  teach  these 
languages  ;  and  they  ought  to  go  abroad  and  teach  the  peo- 
ple the  Hebrew  and  Greek  languages,  in  order  that  they 
may  read  the  Book  of  God's  inspiration  correctly.  And 
all  the  people  all  over  the  world,  wherever  the  Bible 
is  taught,  ought  to  be  taught  the  Hebrew  and  Greek  lan- 
guages, because  the  Word  of  God  is  of  infinitely  more 
importance  to  every  human  soul  than  any  comment  or 
explanation. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cooke,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference :  —  Mr.  Chairman, 
I  desire  simply  to  say  a  word  in  defence  of  my  friend, 


80  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

Dr.  Yail.  And  I  am  very  glad  that  Dr.  Coggeshall  is  going 
up  to  help  him  on,  as  he  said,  "  in  his  enthusiasm."  But  I 
am  very  sorry  he  has  backslidden  in  one  year.  A  year 
ago  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  present,  at  Concord,  with 
Dr.  Coggeshall,  and  after  Dr.  Yail  had  explained  a  passage 
in  the  Scriptures,  concerning  the  looking  out  of  the  lattice 
in  the  window,  the  doctor,  thinking  that  Professor  Yail  had 
not  put  it  quite  strong  enough,  got  up  and  illustrated  with 
a  translation  of  David  Brainerd,  who  rendered  it,  in  the  In- 
dian language,  "  looking  through  the  eel-pots."  [Laughter.] 
I  hope  he  will  go  and  kindle  up  the  enthusiasm  of  the  Pro- 
fessor of  Languages. 

I  did  not  understand  the  essayist  as  the  others  did.  All 
I  have  understood  him  to  say  was,  that  a  knowledge  of  the 
ancient  languages  greatly  aided  the  minister,  and  that  he 
would  be  successful  in  difficult  questions  just  in  proportion 
to  his  knowledge  of  the  ancient  languages. 

But  now,  in  a  word,  I  would  briefly  refer  to  the  objec- 
tions made  by  the  first  speaker,  —  Bro.  Gorham.  He  ob- 
jected to  the  essayist's  view  of  the  Latin.  While  the  intent 
was  given  by  the  Professor  in  too  general  terms,  the  idea 
was  correct.  I  believe  the  Professor  made  a  statement 
that  will  hardly  bear  criticism  in  that  particular.  If  I 
recollect  rightly,  about  four  fifths  of  the  English  language 
is  from  the  Anglo-Saxon,  while  the  other  fifth  is  made  up 
of  other  modern  languages,  and  more  than  20,000  words 
are  combinations  of  several  prefixes  that  have  been  added 
to  these  original  elements. 

But,  if  I  remember  rightly,  there  was  a  brother,  a  few 
years  ago,  buying  works  at  the  Book  Room,  and  he  as- 
signed this  as  the  reason  for  his  choice  of  books  :  that  a 
man  could  not  correctly  understand  his  own  mother- 
tongue  until  he  had  studied  the  language  in  its  original; 
and  that  brother  was  Dr.  Coggeshall.  [Laughter.]  And 
who  does  not  see  that  a  man  labors  under  great  disad- 
vantages, as  most  of  us  have  done,  by  not  having  the  key 
put  into  our  hands? 


DISCUSSION   OF   DR.    YAIl/s    ESSAY.  *         81 

A  lawyer  once  called  upon  me  for  the  translation  of  a 
law-phrase.  lie  said  that  he  undertook  to  follow  the  popu- 
lar current  of  the  time,  and  was  introduced  into  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law  without  studying  the  dead  languages,  and 

that  he  had  spent  more  time  with  classical  dictionaries,  in 
trying  to  translate  law-phrases,  than  boys  UOW  spend  in  the 
colleges  in  their  studies  of  the  ancient  languages.  And 
though  many  of  us  have  done  the  best  we  could,  yet,  it 
must  be  confessed,  we  have  been  laboring  under  disadvan- 
tages all  our  lives,  because  we  were  not  better  disciplined 
and  better  trained  before  we  began. 

Rev.  Georye  Prentice,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference:  —  If  it 
should  be  as  difficult  to  understand  the  Apocalypse  as  it 
seems  to  be  to  comprehend  this  essay,  I  think  Ave  shall  be 
in  great  difficulty ;  for  it  seems  to  me  that  every  one  has 
failed  to  appreciate  the  essayist's  precise  position.  Dr. 
Vail  does  not  intend  to  claim  that  the  body  of  a  translation 
is  inspired.  For  you  will  see  at  once  that,  if  all  the  trans- 
lations are  inspired,  the  translator  must  be  inspired  for  his 
work.  We  shall  then  have  to  return  to  the  old  times,  when 
prophets  declared  the  truth  on  every  side,  and  no  man 
walked  in  darkness,  since  he  had  the  intent  of  the  Divine 
Mind. 

Now,  you  will  see  that  Dr.  Vail  took  the  right  position 
—  that  no  translation  is  inspired.  So  far  as  the  translator 
succeeds  in  giving  the  Word  of  God  to  the  people,  by  so 
much  will  he  aid  in  the  diffusion  of  the  meaning  of  the 
Word  of  God. 

It  seems  to  me  that  we  should  not  berate  Dr.  Vail,  as  if 
he  meant  that  all  the  work  of  the  Church  has  been  simply 
a  perfect  error  from  the  first  to  the  last.  He  claimed  that 
if  the  translations  were  inspired,  then  all  the  translators 
must  be  inspired.  But  since  there  was  no  such  thing  as 
this,  their  work  is  that  of  a  translation  of  the  Inspired 
Word. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cunimings,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference:  —  I  have 


82        *  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

an  especial  reason  for  speaking,  and  that  is  to  say  a  good 
word  for  that  good  man,  Dr.  Vail.  It  was  intimated  that 
Dr.  Vail  would  not  have  written  things  which  were  in  the 
essay,  if  he  were  possessed  of  a  certain  kind  of  expe- 
rience. I  knew  Dr.  Vail  in  other  years.  I  knew  him  when 
he  was  engaged  in  the  ordinary  work  of  the  ministry.  I 
have  seen  him  when  he  has  gone  to  his  work.  He  has 
had,  sir,  experience  in  all  departments  of  this  work  as  a 
Methodist  minister.  And  he  left  his  position  as  such,  not 
because  he  was  not  pleased  with  it,  but  because  he  was 
called  from  it  by  the  Church. 

Now  on  the  general  question.  Dr.  VaiPs  sentiments,  as 
to  all  classes  of  the  ministry,  are  undoubtedly  correct. 
I  think  the  difficulty  is  in  urging  as  a  general  truth  that 
which  can  have  only  an  exceptional  application.  Dr. 
Vail's  sentiments  as  to  the  classes  of  the  ministry  are 
undoubtedly  correct.  He  feels  no  unkind  sentiment  to- 
wards those  who  have  not  had  the  advantages  of  a  clas- 
sical training.  Such  a  class  of  men  is  needed;  they  always 
have  been  needed,  and  are  needed  now.  If  the  doctor 
were  questioned  himself,  I  doubt  if  the  full  meaning  which 
has  been  put  upon  his  essay  would  be  what  he  himself 
would  endorse.  The  kindness  of  his  heart,  the  intelli- 
gence of  that  brother,  would  not  allow  him  to  say  that  the 
great  proportion  of  the  ministers  in  all  the  churches,  who 
cannot  come  up  to  the  standard,  as  he  has  indicated  it, 
could  not  be  good  ministers  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  As 
is  well  known,  the  facts  are  against  the  supposition. 

One  word  respecting  the  languages.  If  it  were  true  that 
God  dictated  only  the  words  you  find  in  your  Scriptures, 
yet  not  one  man  in  fifty  who  reads  those  words  is  in  any 
way  independent  of  his  dictionary,  and  the  dictionary  is 
no  more  inspired  than  the  commentary. 

And  further,  that  order  of  the  ministry  will  be  most 
successful,  selected  from  a  given  class  of  the  people,  who 
will  look  understandingly  into  their  eyes  and  use  their 


DISCUSSION   OF   DR.    VAILS    ESSAY.  83 

figures,  yet  who  are  not  sufficiently  removed  in  habits  of 
thought  to  become  distasteful  to  them.  And  it  is  this  very 
point  of  adaptation  of  which  we  wish  to  speak.  Men  taken 
out  of  a  given  class  speak  in  it  naturally,  powerfully, — 
men  of  piety  and  good  judgment,  and  who  are  able  to  stand 
before  the  assembly,  —  these  are  the  men  who  are  the  best 
preachers.  If  you  take  the  Faculty  of  Old  Harvard  and 
put  them  into  the  same  number  of  the  grammar  schools 
in  this  city,  you  cannot  select  a  class  of  school-mistresses 
who  would  not  beat  them.  [Laughter.]  Now  I  believe 
in  the  highest  qualifications  for  the  ministry ;  but  it  seems 
to  me  that  I  do  not  believe  that  the  same  order  of  acquire- 
ments is  demanded  of  all.  We  are  all  brothers  of  one 
Church,  divers  parts,  but  we  ought  not  to  be  pointing  at 
each  other,  and  one  class  that  has  especial  qualifications 
pointing  to  others  and  saying,  "You  are  not  a  preacher 
because  you  are  not  like  me."  We  are  all  called  of  God  to 
tli is  work,  and  each  will  be  equally  successful  if  each  is 
alike  faithful  to  his  work. 

The  time  allotted  to  this  discussion  having  expired,  the 
essay  of  llev.  Dr.  Cummings,  on  endowing  our  literary  in- 
stitutions, came  up  as  the  order  of  the  day. 

Rev.  W.  F.  Mallalieu,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference:  —  I  am 
aware  that  there  are  scores  of  older  and  better  men  than 
me  in  this  Convention;  but  my  heart  is  interested  in  the 
subject  that  is  before  us  at  the  present  time, —  the  endow- 
ment of  the  educational  institutions  of  our  Church.  My 
interest  was  aroused  while  hearing  the  essay  by  Dr.  Vail. 
It  would  be  very  far  from  me  to  say  anything,  even  the  re- 
motest word,  that  would  convey  any  possibility  of  the 
thought  that  there  is  in  my  heart  an  iota  of  criticism  in  re- 
gard to  the  position  which  the  Methodist  Church  and  the 
ministry  of  the  Methodist  Church  to-day  occupy  in  regard 
to  edueation. 

It  was  my  pleasure,  ten  years  ago,  to  listen  to  these 
words,  never  to  be  forgotten :  that  "  whatever  Methodism 


84  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

may  have  done  in  the  past,  for  the  last  thirty  years  (then 
preceding)  no  Christian  denomination  could  parallel  the 
Methodist  in  its  activity  in,  and  advancement  of,  the  cause  of 
education."  These  words  came  from  the  lips  of  Edward 
Everett;  and  the  ten  years  that  have  passed  since  then 
have  in  no  way  diminished  the  glory  due  to  us  as  a  people, 
or  to  the  claims  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

I  am  satisfied  we  can  go  further  back  than  that,  and  the 
man  who  ventures  to  say  that  the  Methodist  Church  has 
been  behindhand  in  the  interest  of  education  makes  an  as* 
sertion  which  the  facts  of  history  will  completely  and  for- 
ever disprove. 

From  the  days  that  Wesley  started  forth  from  the  college 
in  England  where  he  graduated  until  this  hour,  we  have 
been  able  to  match  the  choicest  scholars  in  the  world  of 
science,  literature,  and  theology.  You  were  hearing,  last 
night,  in  regard  to  the  matter  of  our  text-books,  and  the 
works  of  our  brethren  in  the  ministry  and  of  our  Professors. 
When  others  have  gone  forth  as  pioneers  of  the  gospel,  and 
have  done  as  much  for  the  salvation  of  men,  and  to  clear 
away  and  make  plain  the  paths  of  civilization,  then  they 
may  criticise  the  Methodist  Church  for  the  want  of  text- 
books and  literary  productions. 

There  are  three  of  the  Professors  at  Middletown  ranking 
high  as  authors  to-day.  Van  Vleck  is  preparing  a  work  on 
geometry,  —  and  there  is  not  his  superior  in  the  United 
States  in  the  branch  which  he  teaches ;  Professor  Van 
Benschoten  has  a  work  on  Greek,  and  he  is  the  only  one, 
since  the  death  of  Professor  Felton,  who  can  converse  in 
Greek.  Professor  Harrington  has  another  work  on  Latin 
prepared  ;  and  the  day  is  coming  when  we  shall  stand  as 
well  in  regard  to  these  things  as  we  have  in  other  depart- 
ments of  the  work.  Show  me  the  man  who  is  equal  to  Wm. 
F.  Warren  to-day  in  theology ;  I  will  guarantee  that  he 
stands  head  and  shoulders  above  the  men  of  his  years,  or 
twice  his  years. 


LTTEEABT    INSTITUTIONS.  85 

These  arc  tlic  men  wlio  are  towering  np  and  follow- 
ing in  the  steps  of  Adam  Clarke,  Watson,  Walsh,  and 
Olivers.  These  are  but  a  Few  names  that  I  might  mention. 
A  glorious  galaxy  of  them  are  crowding  np,  —  such  men  as 
John  and  Charles  Wesley,  famous  in  the  walks  of  literature 
and  science.  Now,  what  is  the  need  of  discussion  on  this 
point?  Professor  Johnston  here  [turning  towards  him  on 
the  platform],  who  need  not  be  ashamed  to  have  me  say 
that  there  are  not  three  greater  living  chemists  in  this 
country.  I  am  going  further  than  that,  and  say  that,  with 
his  attainments,  but  give  him  the  means,  and  he  will  stand 
equal  with  those  who  are  in  the  front  rank  of  his  depart- 
ment. But  what  is  there  at  Middletown  ?  If  you  will  pass 
through  the  middle  buildings,  you  will  find  one  somewhat 
like  a  barn  or  wood-shed,  and  that  is  the  Chemical  Labora- 
tory. He  ought  to  have  a  palace  —  a  majestic  freestone 
building,  and  all  the  appliances  that  art  or  wealth  can  fur- 
nish him,  ought  to  be  at  his  disposal.  He  ought  to  sit  there 
like  a  king,  and  direct  the  studies  of  those  attending  upon 
his  lectures.  But  how  are  we  going  to  get  the  money 
needed  for  this?  Are  Methodist  ministers  going  to  do 
this?  No,  we  have  not  got  it.  If  you  will  devote  your 
money  to  the  service  of  God  ;  if  you  will  endow  his  de- 
partment with  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and 
on  the  top  of  this,  if  you  will  devote  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars  more,  we  then  shall  have  a  suitable  endowment  to 
the  College  at  Middletown. 

I  recollect  the  words  of  the  talented  Channing :  "  There 
is  nothing  to  express  the  cruelty  and  folly  of  that  economy 
which  starves  the  intellect  of  the  child."  That  economy  of 
rich  men  that  holds  back  from  devoting  their  wealth  for  the 
benefit  of  the  rising  generation  is  not  only  cruelty  but  folly. 
The  wealth  of  the  Church,  like  water,  ought  to  be  poured 
out,  so  that  intellectual  culture  shall  be  found  even  in  the 
humblest  ones  in  the  service  of  God. 

Bev.  Dr.  Crooks,  Editor  of  "  The  Methodist,"  JVew  York : 


86  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

—  I  do  not  think  I  can  add  much  to  the  very  eloquent 
words  you  have  just  heard.  There  has  always  been  great 
pleasure  to  me  in  looking  at  the  programme  of  this  cen- 
tenary year,  as  developed  both  by  the  General  Committee 
and  by  the  Conference  Committees,  that  it  has  been  made 
a  year  of  dedication  to  the  work  of  promoting  the  interests 
of  the  cause  of  general  education.  I  shall  be  glad,  Mr. 
Chairman,  to  see  the  time  when  we  can  have  our  educa- 
tional system  combined  into  one  unity,  so  that  Methodism 
in  this  field  of  labor  can  be  as  powerful  as  it  is  in  the  fields 
of  Evangelism.  What  pains  me,  as  a  Methodist,  is  to  see 
so  many  of  oar  institutions  of  learning  struggling  with  in- 
adequate means,  —  the  professors  living  on  limited  salaries 
and  smaller  supplies  than  are  accorded  even  to  the  pastors 
of  our  churches,  —  colleges  cramped  for  the  want  of  suffi- 
cient apparatus,  and  for  the  want  of  the  large  and  extended 
resources  necessary  for  the  use  of  professors  and  students. 

I  have  said,  in  the  course  of  one  or  two  years  pa^t,  some 
things  which  have  been  thought  to  be  too  sharp  upon 
Methodist  education,  —  too  depreciating  of  what  Methodist 
education  has  accomplished  ;  and  I  am  very  glad  of  the  op- 
portunity of  being  able  to  say  a  few  words  in  explanation 
of  my  position.  Sir,  it  was  because  I  loved  Methodist  edu- 
cation that  I  spoke  words  which,  though  apparently  words 
of  rebuke,  were  intended  to  be  only  words  of  loving 
criticism.  My  heart  was  saddened  when  I  saw  earnestness, 
and  zeal,  and  devotion  left  all  barren  and  fruitless,  because 
the  Church  stood  aloof  and  left  the  menAvho  had  dedicated 
their  lives  to  this  work  of  education  to  fight  out  the  battle 
alone.  I  wanted  to  bring  Methodist  laymen  to  rally 
strongly  and  energetically  around  our  schools  of  learning, 
so  that  they  might  furnish  them  from  top  to  bottom  with 
all  the  means  they  might  reasonably  ask  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  that  great  work. 

And  I  think  I  shall  see  the  time  when,  not  only  in  New 
England,  but  all  over  our  land,  we  shall  have  a  complete 


LITERARY   INSTITUTIONS.  87 

system  of  educational  forces;  and  at  the  head  of  them  not 
merely  one  great  Methodist  university,  hut  in  every  great 
congeries  of  States,  one  Methodist  institution,  the  crown  of 
all  the  institutions  of  that  part  of  our  wide  domain.  And  I 
hope  to  see,  too,  as  accompaniments,  schools  of  law,  theol- 
ogy, medicine,  and  the  arts,  —  all  the  schools  needed  to  fit 
men  in  this  nineteenth  century  for  the  work  which  the 
nineteenth  century  requires  of  us. 

Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  if  you  would  allow  me,  I  would  like, 
as  ministerial  culture  is  the  general  topic  before  the  Con- 
vention, to  say  one  word  thereon.  I  have  always  thought 
that  the  subject  of  general  education  was  injured  and 
harmed  by  our  claiming  too  much  when  we  have  urged 
upon  the  Church  the  need  of  ministerial  education.  Min- 
isterial education  does  immensely  for  the  ministry,  as  a 
protective  agency  of  the  Church.  Ministerial  education 
cannot  make  a  man  a  preacher.  God  makes  the  preachers, 
and  he  will  ever  make  them;  and  he  makes  them  by  en- 
dowing them  with  the  "  power  from  on  high."  Xo  man 
can  be  a  preacher  unless  he  speaks  with  the  unction  of  the 
Holy  One  from  heaven.  But,  sir,  when  I  look  at  the  fact 
that  the  great  movements  in  the  Church  have  been  led  by 
the  cultured  men  who  have  carried  the  Church  forward,  — 
that  it  was  Augustine,  the  scholar  and  rhetorician,  that 
laid  the  foundations  of  theology, —  that  it  was  Martin 
Luther  who  shook  the  world  and  led  it  from  the  iron  and 
galling  embrace  of  the  Papacy,  —  that  it  was  John  Wesley, 
fresh  from  Oxford,  and  all  fragrant  with  its  learning,  who 
led  the  world  out  into  the  movement  which  we  call  Meth- 
odism,—  surely,  sir,  it  is  not  for  me,  as  a  Methodist,  to 
depreciate  learning.  Let  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of 
my  mouth  first.  Methodism  has  been  living  for  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  years  on  the  brains  of  John  Wesley.  [Ap- 
plause.] And  these  were  so  powerful  that  the  world  will 
live  on  them  for  another  age,  and  live  well  too !  [Ap- 
plause.]    But,  sir,  learning  has  that  guarding,  protecting 


88         METHODIST  CEXTENARY  CONVENTION, 

power  which  saves  the  Church  from  the  delusions  to  which 
our  human  nature  is  subject.  Who  can  be  protected  so 
well  as  those  Christian  congregations  who  are  well  trained 
in  the  meaning  of  the  Scriptures  by  a  well-cultured  and 
thoughtful  ministry,  whose  learning  is  continually  guarding 
the  Church,  keeping  it  from  error,  building  the  bulwarks  of 
truth  around  the  Church,  and  holding  her  steady  to  her 
course  ?  And  without  this  great  regulating  power  of  cul- 
ture, the  Church  would  be  a  wreck  in  less  than  a  genera- 
tion. And,  sir,  for  that  reason,  because  ministerial  culture 
is  necessary,  do  I  desire  it, — not  to  elevate  our  ministry  to 
lord  it  over  the  Church.  Never,  never  !  The  trouble  is, 
our  membership  is  getting  up  so  fast  in  education  that  we 
ministers  have  to  work  with  all  our  might  to  keep  ourselves 
in  advance  of  them. 

I  am  delighted  with  the  privilege  of  speaking  these 
words  to  the  representatives  of  New  England  Methodism. 
God  bless  you,  brethren.  It  is  twenty-three  years  since  I 
have  had  the  privilege  of  visiting  the  city  of  Boston. 
Those  were  the  days  when  the  Bromfield  Street  Church 
invited  the  people  to  enter,  and  there  it  was  my  privilege 
to  worship  with  you.  And  now,  though  I  have  looked  on 
New  England  Methodism  from  the  distance,  and  sometimes 
have  said  to  myself,  "  What  a  singular  development  New 
England  Methodism  is  !  I  wonder  if  it  is  like  the  rest  of  the 
Methodism  of  the  United  States  ?  "  yet,  when  I  heard  you 
sing  a  few  moments  ago  that  grand  old  lyric  which  has 
been  sung  to  the  tune  we  all  so  well  know  all  over  this 
continent,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  I  felt  with  you, 
indeed,  that  the  Methodist  power  abides  with  us  as  it  does 
elsewhere.  God  give  us  a  double  portion  of  it,  [Great 
applause.] 

Rev.  Dr.  Pickard,  of  New  Brunswick :  —  I  very  unex- 
pectedly occupy  this  position.  When  the  invitation  was 
kindly  extended  to  me  by  the  President  of  the  Convention, 
I  shrunk  from  accepting  it.     It  is  now  going  on  towards 


LITERARY    INSTITUTION-.  89 

forty  years  since,  in  1829,  it  was  my  privilege  to  enter  the 
Academy  at  Wilbraham,  and  there  I  was  allowed  to  asso- 
ciate with  that  sainted  man  of  God,  Dr.  Fisk,  who  led  on 
this  enterprise.  It  was  my  privilege  to  have  the  desire  for 
education  beyond  what  was  given  there,  and  I  accompanied 
him  to  Middletown.  During  my  course  there  I  received 
instruction  from  our  venerable  father,  Dr.  Johnston,  and 
Dr.  Whedon,  and  other  men  I  might  mention.  I  returned 
to  my  native  land,  and  there  and  thence  I  have  watched 
New  England  Methodism,  especially  in  regard  to  this  enter- 
prise of  education.  Upwards  of  twenty  years  ago  I  re- 
luctantly left  the  field  of  the  itinerancy,  being  called  to 
take  charge  of  an  institution  that  had  been  founded  by  the 
liberality  of  an  individual,  whose  donation  to  the  cause  of 
Christian  education,  I  believe,  in  1840,  was  the  largest  that 
had  been  given  by  any  one  person  to  the  work  of  Metho- 
dist education.  It  seems  quite  small  now,  as  1  hear  of  a 
half-million  dollars  for  that  work  ;  however,  the  contribution 
of  that  individual  who  laid  the  foundation  of  the  institution 
with  which  I  am  connected  was  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. We  have  been  visited  with  affliction,  to  some  extent, 
recently,  but  our  effort  is  onward ;  and  we  believe  that, 
under  the  leading  of  the  God  of  providence,  the  Church 
will  take  hold  of  this  enterprise  more  strongly  in  this  cen- 
tenary year  of  American  Methodism.  And  we  believe  the 
Church  in  these  United  States  will  labor  side  by  side  with 
us  ;  and  in  addition  to  the  liberality  of  the  laymen  in  all  sec- 
tions of  the  Church  militant,  New  England  will  continue  to 
be  a  light  to  the  world,  and  a  blessing  to  the  whole  human 
race. 

I  shall  not  occupy  the  time  of  this  Convention  any 
farther  than  to  say  that  I  am  delighted  to  be  here.  I  was 
delighted  with  the  reference  of  Dr.  Crooks  to  the  singing 
of  that  good  old  tune  of  Lenox.  A  few  years  ago,  whilo 
n  attendance  at  one  of  the  British  Conferences  in  Corn- 
wall, I  went  down  into  the  mines,  some  fifteen  hundred  or 

7 


90  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

eighteen  hundred  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
with  quite  a  company,  including  one  of  your  American 
Methodists,  and  it  was  suggested  that  we  should  have  a 
meeting  away  down  there  among  the  miners,  and  they 
were  invited  to  sing,  and  united  in  singing  that  good  old 
hymn,  "  Arise,  my  soul,  arise  ! ;'  in  that  good  old  tune  of 
Lenox.  My  spirit  exults  in  the  thought  that  I  shall  meet, 
when  all  our  conflicts  are  over,  with  all  New  England 
Methodists  in  that  world  where  parting  is  unknown. 

Mr.  Wm.  C.  Brown,  of  the  New  England  Conference, 
now  read  the  following  essay  on  the  Support  of  Public 
Worship  :  — 

I  have  made,  what  I  suppose  to  be,  a  thorough  search  for 
some  book,  pamphlet,  or  tract  on  the  subject  of  Ministerial 
support,  but  have  not  been  able  to  find  anything,  by  any  de- 
nomination, on  this  highly-interesting  and  important  topic,  ex- 
cept a  sermon  b}^  Rev.  Dr.  Bennett,  President  of  Rotherhain 
College,  England,  and  a  sermon  by  Rev.  Zechariah  Paddock, 
delivered  before  the  Oneida  Conference,  in  1842.  Both  of  these 
are  published  as  tracts,  and  are  excellent  treatises  on  the  sub- 
ject, as  far  as  the}r  go.  The  argument,  however,  is  entirely 
confined  to  the  obligation  on  the  part  of  the  laity  to  support  the 
ministry.  The  idea  that  the  laity  are  most  benefited  b}T  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  seems  not  to  have  occurred  to  them. 
Perhaps  I  ought  to  say  that  the  excellent  volume,  published  at 
our  Book  Room,  entitled  "  Systematic  Beneficence,"  containing 
three  prize  essa3~s,  has,  in  each  essaj^,  a  chapter  on  the  personal 
advantages  which  accrue  to  the  giver;  but  all  the  arguments 
here  used  have  relation  to  general  beneficence,  while  our  topic  is 
Ministerial  Support.  Besides,  the  word  beneficence  is  not  a 
suitable  word  to  express  the  relation  which  the  lajmian  holds 
toward  his  minister. 

If  the  few  considerations  which  I  shall  present  to  you  at  this 
irne  have  any  value,  it  will  be  mainly  in  these  facts  :  — 

First,  That,  in  addition  to  the  acknowledged  claim,  which 
the  ministry  have  upon  the  people  for  a  suitable  support,  it  is 
for  the  highest  spiritual  interest  of  the  people  generously  to  sus- 
tain the  ministry. 


MB.    BROWN'S   ESSAY.  01 

Second,  That  it  is  for  the  highest  temporal  cjood  of  the  peo- 
ple to  do  this  ;  and, 

Third,  That  these  arguments  come  from  a  layman. 

Till'    MINISTRY    MUST   BE    SUPPORTED. 

In  the  treatment  of  a  subject  so  weighty  as  this,  I  cannot, 
however,  leave  entirely  out  of  account  the  solemn  duty  of  all 
Christians  to  sustain  public  worship,  —  a  duty  so  emphatically 
enjoined  in  the  Scriptures  of  divine  truth. 

In  accomplishing  the  great  work  of  freeing  mankind  from  the 
bondage  of  sin.  God  is  infinitely  wise  in  adapting  means  to 
ends  ;  and  the  means  he  has  appointed  for  the  salvation  of 
men  are  found,  chiefly,  in  the  support  of  public  worship,  and 
the  various  instrumentalities  which  that  sets  and  keeps  at  work. 
On  this,  as  its  central  point,  nearly  everything  turns  ;  and, 
without  this,  little  would  be  done,  or  even  attempted,  for  the 
salvation  of  men,  at  home  or  abroad.  The  case  is  perfectly 
clear.  In  order  that  the  gospel  may  become  to  any  extent  ef- 
fective, it  must  be  brought  home  to  the  hearts  and  consciences 
of  men  ;  and  it  is  the  imperative  duty  of  all  Christians,  not 
ministers  merely,  to  put  into  and  keep  in  operation,  such  a  sys- 
tem of  means  as  will  bear  upon  all  men  within  their  reach. 
The  central  agency  for  accomplishing  this  momentous  work  is 
the  pulpit,  or  public  worship.  Nor  is  it  optional  with  men, 
whether  they  will  sustain  this  public  worship  or  not,  any  more 
than  it  is  optional  whether  they  will  be  honest,  or  sober,  or 
not. 

Let  us  endeavor  to  realize  how  much  all  this  means.  It  in- 
volves, directly  or  incidentally,  almost  everything  which  can  be 
clone  for  the  spiritual  interests  of  a  given  community.  If  no 
provision  is  made  among  them  for  public  worship,  little  or 
nothing  will  be  done  for  their  salvation.  On  the  contrary, 
where  proper  measures  are  adopted  tor  this  purpose,  we  intro- 
duce and  establish  a  central  mainspring,  on  the  power  of  which 
depends  the  whole  circle  of  agencies  and  influences  for  the 
growth  of  Christians  in  holiness,  for  the  conversion  of  sinners, 
and  for  the  support  of  all  the  great  Christian  enterprises,  which 
seek  to  reform  society  and  evangelize  the  world. 


92  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

Nor  is  this  obligation  confined  to  any  particular  class  of 
Christians.  It  is  universal.  The  poor  cannot,  in  their  contri- 
butions, compete  with  the  rich,  but  both  have  a  relative  responsi- 
bilit}r.  Let  us  be  careful  not  to  undervalue,  in  this  work,  the 
aid  of  Christ's  poor.  May  not  their  prayers  and  small  contri- 
butions be  often  of  more  avail  than  the  largest  liberality  of  the 
rich?  How  touching  the  tribute  paid  by  our  Saviour  to  the 
poor  woman's  two  mites,  so  dear  to  God,  because  she  cast  in 
her  all !  Christ  chose  the  poor  ;  and  no  plan  for  the  support  of 
his  cause  at  home,  or  its  spread  through  the  world,  can  safely 
overlook  or  undervalue  their  agency. 

Here,  then,  rest  our  chief  hopes,  under  God,  for  the  world's 
salvation  or  general  improvement.  Nothing  but  the  gospel, 
uttered  b}'  a  living  ministry,  can  ever  secure  these  results  ;  and 
unless  its  institutions  are  preserved  among  ourselves  in  their 
full  vigor,  through  the  sanctuary,  the  Church,  and  her  ministry, 
we  shall  look  in  vain  for  its  spread,  with  all  its  matchless  bless- 
ings, over  the  whole  earth.  We  must  keep  the  sacred  fires 
burning  fresh  on  our  own  altars  at  home,  or  we  shall  do  but 
little  to  save  the  benighted  in  heathen  lands.  Shut  up  our 
sanctuaries,  and  how  surely  would  all  the  enterprises  of  benevo- 
lence and  reform,  which  now  constitute  the  chief  hope  and 
glory  of  our  age,  cease  their  operations  forever  ! 

I  have  said  that  this  must  be  done  b}T  a  living  ministiy, 
called  by  God  himself  to  declare  his  truth  to  the  children  of 
men.  If  the  question  should  be  asked,  whether  we  could  not 
get  along  without  the  ministiy,  if  we  retained  the  prayer- 
meeting,  the  class-meeting,  the  Sunday-school,  the  Bible-class, 
the  love-feast,  the  missionary-meeting,  and  the  entire  personal 
influence  of 

"The  sacramental  host  of  God's  elect," 

I  should  unhesitatingly  answer,  No  !  The  mandate  is,  "  Go  ye 
into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature." 
The  words  all  and  every  here  are  very  comprehensive. 

"  God  gives  the  word.    The  preachers  throng  around, 
Catch  the  glad  word,  and  spread  the  glorious  sound; 
That  sound  bespeaks  salvation  on  the  way, — 
The  trumpet  of  a  life-restoring  day." 


MR.  brown's   ESSAY.  93 

I  have  said,  also,  that  we  must  keep  the  sacred  fires  burning 
on  our  own  altars  at  home.  Allow  me  to  introduce  here  the 
views  of  the  late  Rev.  John  A.  James,  of  Birmingham,  England, 

a  gentleman  who  felt  a  deep  interest  in  the  religious  condition 
of  the  United  States,     lie  says  :  — 

"The  object  of  j*our  zeal  must  be  your  own  country,  —  to 
supply  her  rapidly-increasing  population  with  able,  faithful 
ministers.  Your  religious  policy  must  be  a  home  policy.  Com- 
pared with  the  claims  of  your  own  land,  the  claims  of  the 
heathen  are  but  secondary.  If  you  cannot  attend  to  both,  you 
must  attend  to  your  own  destitute  people.  You  must  cultivate 
the  waste  places  of  your  own  homestead.  Think  what  your 
country  is,  and  especially  what  it  must  be,  not  only  for  the 
magnitude  of  its  territory  and  the  multitude  of  its  people,  the 
vastness  of  its  wealth  and  the  greatness  of  its  power,  but  the 
importance  of  its  example.  On  your  land  hang,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  future  interests  of  the  globe.  Hence  the  unspeak- 
able importance  that  your  churches  should  concentrate,  in  a 
great  measure,  their  religious  efforts  upon  your  own  country. 
If  it  were  necessary  (in  order  to  supply  your  own  people  with 
pastors)  that  one  half  of  3rour  male  members  should  become 
ministers,  then  let  it  be  the  chief  business  of  the  other  half  to 
support  them.  These  are  my  deliberate  views  of  the  duties  of 
American  Christians."  Such  was  the  opinion  of  that  eminent 
English  divine. 

I  might  greatly  enlarge  here  by  speaking  of  the  intrinsic 
greatness  of  this  country,  of  its  prospective  population,  of 
its  agricultural  capabilities,  of  its  influence  on  the  rest  of  the 
world,  that  it  must  eventually  supply  to  a  great  extent  the 
resources  of  foreign  missions,  etc.,  but  I  am  restricted.  Each 
of  these  topics  would  afford  material  for  a  discourse. 

CHRISTIANS    SPIRITUALLY    BENEFITED. 

In  addition  to  the  acknowledged  claim  which  the  ministry 
have  upon  the  people  for  a  suitable  support,  it  is  for  the  highest 
spiritual  interest  of  the  people  generously  to  sustain  the 
ministry. 

Christians  should  be  careful  not  to  undervalue  the  privilege 


94  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

of  aiding  in  the  maintenance  of  public  worship,  which  includes, 
of  course,  a  generous  support  of  the  ministry.  It  is  a  gracious 
condescension  in  God  to  allow  such  co-operation  with  himself 
in  the  world's  recovery  from  sin  and  its  woes.  He  might  have 
taken  the  whole  work  into  his  own  hands  ;  or  he  might  have 
vouchsafed  the  honor  only  to  angels  ;  but,  for  our  sake,  he  em- 
ploys our  instrumentality,  and  thus  confers  on  us  what  we 
ought  to  regard  as  a  high,  inestimable  privilege,  —  a  privilege 
of  more  real  value  to  us,  in  our  spiritual  interests,  than  the 
wealth  of  the  Indies  would  be,  or  the  sceptre  of  an  empire. 
This  privilege  God  grants  to  every  Christian,  however  humble 
or  poor,  coupling  with  it  a  double  blessing,  —  one  to  him  who 
gives  and  one  to  him  who  takes. 

Were  I  possessed  of  a  vindictive  spirit,  and  had  an  enemy 
whom  I  hated,  and  whom  I  wished  to  injure  to  the  extent  of  my 
ability,  and  were  the  power  granted  me  to  do  this  in  any  way  I 
pleased,  I  would  not,  as  the  most  effectual  way,  la}'  my  hand 
on  his  person,  or  traduce  his  character,  or  burn  his  premises,  or 
smite  him  with  some  deadly  disease,  or  banish  him  from  the 
abodes  of  civilized  man  ;  no,  all  I  should  need  to  do,  fully  to 
accomplish  my  purpose,  would  be  to  make  him  supremely 
selfish  and  covetous. 

As  to  the  ministiy,  it  is  only  a  part,  though  confessedly  an 
essential  part,  of  the  system  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of 
public  worship,  and  to  be  sustained,  not  for  the  personal  bene- 
fit of  the  preacher,  but  for  the  general  good.  On  this  point 
some  persons  are  so  obtuse  as  never  to  have  any  idea  of  the 
maintenance  of  public  worship  only  as  furnishing  an  oppor- 
tunity  to  support  a  minister ;  and  they  look,  therefore,  upon 
what  the}'  contribute  for  that  purpose  as  a  gratuity.  But  the 
same  persons  would  readily  see  the  absurdity  of  building 
schoolhouses,  and  of  going  into  all  the  trouble  and  expense  of 
school  operations,  for  the  exclusive  benefit  of  the  schoolmaster. 
And  yet  the  latter  is  no  more  absurd  than  the  former.  The 
minister,  then,  is  the  servant  of  the  Church,  —  one  of  her  in- 
struments in  securing  God's  glory  in  the  salvation  of  mankind  ; 
and  hence,  every  society,  if  wise,  will  insure  its  preacher  such 
support  as  will  save  him  from  anxiety,  and  leave  him  free  to 
devote  himself,  without  distraction,  to  his  great  work. 


Mli.    BBOWN'S    E88AT.  95 

CHRISTIANS    BENEFITED    TEMPORALLY. 

It  is  for  the  highest  temporal  good  of  the  people  to  Bustain 
their  ministers. 

No  greater  mistake  can  he  made  by  Christians  than  to  evade 
the  expense  of  public  worship,  or  to  cherish  the  idea  that  they 
cannot  afford  the  privileges  of  the  gospel.  On  the  contrary, 
they  cannot  prosper  without  them  ;  and  should  they  attempt  to 
do  so,  they  would  soon  find  themselves  on  the  way  to  financial 
as  well  as  to  spiritual  ruin.  The  gospel,  even  in  a  pecuniar;! 
view,  is  certain  everywhere  to  pay  its  way  more  than  ten  times 
over.  Xo  investment  is  so  surely  and  so  largely  profitable. 
Without  the  social,  educational,  intellectual,  and  political  insti- 
tutions and  privileges  dependent  on  its  influence,  there  is  hardly 
a  city,  town,  or  village  where  all  kinds  of  property  would  not 
sink  in  value  more  than  fifty  per  cent.  And  although  this 
argument  is  addressed  to  the  lowest  incentives  of  the  human 
heart,  it  is  sufficiently  strong  of  itself  to  justify  the  accomplish- 
ment of  all  I  have  claimed. 

Some  years  ago,  I  had  some  conversation,  in  relation  to 
property,  with  the  largest  real-estate  owner  in  the  city  where  I 
reside.  In  the  course  of  the  conversation,  I  put  this  question 
to  him :  "  Suppose  all  the  churches  in  this  city  were  demol- 
ished, and  it  was  made  certain  that  none  would  ever  be  erected 
here  again  ;  what  would  the  effect  of  this  be  on  the  value  of 
real  estate  here?"  His  reply  was.  "  It  would  immediately  lose 
one  half  its  value.  In  short,"  said  he,  "  I  am  not  certain  that 
it  would  be  worth  anything  at  all."  This  declaration  is  very 
significant,  when  the  fact  is  taken  into  account  that  this  man 
had  no  sympathy  with  experimental  religion. 

It  is  a  very  common  thing  for  large  landowners  and  corpora- 
tions to  make  a  present  of  a  lot  of  land  to  persons  contem- 
plating the  erection  of  a  church  ;  and  they  do  this  with  a 
distinct  knowledge  that  they  will  thereby  enhance  the  value  of 
all  their  other  lands.  Look,  also,  at  the  practice  of  real-estate 
brokers  and  auctioneers,  who  conspicuously  advertise  the  prox- 
imity of  churches  to  the  property  they  extol. 

The  erection  of  every  church  in  a  city  or  town  adds  to  the 
value  of  real  estate  in  that  place.     Some  person  having  leisure, 


96  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

and  at  the  same  time  statistical  proclivities,  might  make  a  com- 
putation of  the  millions  of  dollars  every  3-ear  added  to  the 
wealth  of  sceptical  and  irreligious  real-estate  owners  (through 
the  increase  in  value  of  such  real  estate  by  the  erection  and 
occupation  of  churches  in  their  midst),  who  do  not  contribute 
and  never  have  contributed  anything  toward  the  erection  and 
support  of  those  churches.  And,  furthermore,  there  is  not  a 
single  good  thing  which  these  sceptical  and  practically  infidel 
men  enjoy,  for  which  they  are  not,  directly  or  indirectly,  in- 
debted to  the  God  they  disown  and  the  Book  they  neglect  and 
contemn. 

The  mere  politician,  also,  is  constantly  deceiving  himself 
with  the  idea  that  the  salvation  of  the  country  depends  upon 
him  ;  whereas  the  direct  opposite  of  this  is  the  truth.  Take 
away  Christian  ministers  and  Christian  people,  and  everything 
valuable  in  our  midst  could  not  be  preserved  for  a  single  year, 
only  at  the  point  of  the  sword  and  the  ba}'onet.  I  quote  a  few 
lines  here  from  a  modern  writer,  Bayne,  author  of  "  The  Chris- 
tian Life,"  and  other  valuable  works.  I  quote  from  his  essay 
entitled  "  The  Social  Problem  of  the  Age  :  "  — 

"  Christianity  pronounces  men  equal.  All  the  protests 
which,  in  the  course  of  human  history,  have  been  uttered 
against  the  oppression  of  the  poor  by  the  rich,  and  in  behalf  of 
the  native  majesty  of  man,  sink  into  insignificance  when  com- 
pared with  that  uttered  by  and  embodied  in  Christianit}'.  In 
express  terms  the  Christian  revelation  pronounces  all  men 
equally  the  subjects  of  one  King ;  it  makes  the  value  of  a  soul 
infinite,  and  shows  no  difference  between  the  worth  of  the  soul 
of  a  beggar  and  that  of  a  prince.  Look  into  the  stable  at 
Bethlehem,  on  that  night  when  crowned  sage  and  humble  shep- 
herd knelt  by  the  cradle  of  that  Babe  who  was  their  common 
King.  Do  you  not  see,  in  that  spectacle,  the  bond  of  an  essen- 
tial equality,  uniting  all  ranks,  and  making  the  regal  purple  and 
the  peasant's  russet  faint  and  temporaiy  distinctions  ?  " 

When  I  contemplate  the  indebtedness  of  the  present  gen- 
eration to  our  fathers  for  eveiything  valuable  we  enjoy,  and  es- 
pecially for  the  institutions  of  our  holy  religion,  I  am  over- 
whelmed with  the  magnitude  of  our  obligations  to  them.     Now, 


MK.  brown's  essay.  97 

as  we  cannot  discharge  these  obligations  to  our  ancestors,  do 
we  not,  by  the  moral  law  of  reciprocity,  owe  to  our  posterity  a 
debt  of  equal  magnitude?  Let  us,  then,  leave  nothing  undone 
to  transmit  to  them  the  precious  inheritance  we  have  in  the 
"  pulpit  undefiled." 

I  have  said  that  public  worship  must  be  sustained,  not  for 
the  personal  benefit  of  the  preacher,  but  for  the  public  good. 
No  calculation  can  be  made  of  the  indebtedness  of  society  at 
large  to  the  ministry  for  their  advocacy  and  defence  of  moral 
truth.  We  look  to  them  and  depend  upon  them  as  the  prin- 
cipal conservators  of  morals.  How  nobly  have  they  done  this 
in  the  late  rebellion  !  But  I  cannot  enlarge  here.  "Well  does  a 
distinguished  poet  say  :  — 

"  The  pulpit 
Must  stand  acknowledged  while  the  world  shall  stand, 
The  most  important  and  effectual  guard, 
Sui)port,  and  ornament  of  virtue's  cause." 

I  thank  God  that  the  ministers  of  the  denomination  to  which 
I  belong  have,  ever  since  my  acquaintance  with  them,  and,  I  be- 
lieve, always  have  held  the  idea,  that  patriotism  is  a  part  of 
their  religion,  and  that  they  who  truly  love  God  will  love  their 
country  also.  I  have  an  impression,  too,  that  they  have  been 
governed  b}T  that  noble  maxim,  that  "  what  is  wrong  in  morals 
cannot  be  right  in  politics."  O,  my  clerical  brethren  !  bind 
this  maxim  to  your  brow,  and,  giving  no  heed  to  the  senseless 
clamors  of  political  demagogues,  but, 

"  Strong  in  the  strength  which  God  supplies 
Through  his  eternal  Son,"  . 

carry  it  with  you  till  triumphant  victory  has  crowned  the  im- 
perishable principle. 

Two  topics  were  assigned  to  me  ;  namely,  Church  Finances 
and  the  Support  of  the  Ministry.  I  have  treated  only  of  the 
latter,  which  has  exhausted  all  the  time  allotted  to  me. 
Having,  however,  devoted  much  attention  to  the  subject  of 
church  finances  for  many  years,  it  would  have  afforded  me 
much  pleasure  to  present  to  this  Convention  my  views  on 
this  interesting  topic.     As  it  is,  I  cannot  do  it ;   but  if  the 


98  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

congregation  would  bear  with  me,  I  should  like  to  make  a  few 
statements,  occupying  about  five  minutes. 

It  is  well  known  to  some  of  my  friends  here,  that  I  have  for 
many  years  advocated,  with  all  the  ability  I  possess,  the  method 
called  the  "  Apportionment  Plan,"  for  raising  all  the  principal 
sums  of  money  connected  with  public  worship.  It  has  worked 
so  pleasantly,  so  efficient^,  and  so  successfully  in  the  society 
where  I  am,  for  twemty  years  past,  that  I  am  more  and  more 
convinced  of  its  perfect  adaptation  to  all  our  societies  ;  and  I 
have  never  known  it  in  any  instance  to  fail  where  it  has  been 
thoroughly  and  judiciously  tried. 

Our  Book  Room  published,  last  year,  a  little  tract  of  sixteen 
pages,  entitled  "  Church  Financiering,"  prepared  by  Rev.  J.  B. 
McCullough,  of  the  Philadelphia  Conference.  He  says  the  Ap- 
portionment Plan  prevails  largely  in  the  New  England  and 
some  other  Conferences,  and  then  states  that  he  has  seen  this 
plan  more  successfully  worked  than  any  other  ;  and  further, 
that  he  has  known  it  to  succeed  when  every  other  had  failed. 

That  taxes  are  generally  so  willingly  paid  is  to  be  attributed, 
not  so  much  to  the  compulsory  power  with  which  towns  and 
cities  are  invested,  as  to  the  fact  that  the  burden  is  equally  dis- 
tributed, and  that  every  payer  knows  what  his  fair  proportion 
is.  Suppose,  in  future,  in  raising  money  for  municipal  pur- 
poses, the  employment  of  assessors  should  be  dispensed  with, 
and  the  people  should  be  notified  to  pay  their  taxes  to  the 
Treasurer,  paying  as  much  as  they  could  afford,  or  as  much  as 
they  considered  their  proper  proportion.  Would  there  be 
much  paid  ?     Would  there  be  anything  paid  ? 

And  now  I  wish  to  ask  this  body  of  intelligent  men  if  the 
plan  of  raising  money  which  generally  prevails  throughout  our 
denomination  is  much,  if  anything,  better  than  that  which  I 
have  just  described?  Now,  suppose  towns  and  cities  should  go 
one  step  further,  and  make  a  fair  assessment  of  the  taxes,  but 
still  leave  it  optional  with  all  persons  to  pay  or  not.  Would 
not  the  great  body  of  the  people  pay  ?  I  think  they  would. 
Under  these  circumstances,  a  man  would  soon  lose  his  reputa- 
tion and  standing  in  society,  not  to  pay.  But  if  he  were  not 
assessed,  he  would  not. 


MR.   brown's   E8SAT.  99 

It  is  my  sincere  conviction  that  if  all  our  societies  would 
adopt  the  Apportionment  Plan,  and  good-naturedly,  and  ju- 
diciously, and  persistently  execute  it,  every  preacher  throughout 
our  entire  denomination  would  have  an  ample  support,  and 
every  benevolent  enterprise  among  us  would  have  all  the  money 
it  would  ever  need.  Any  lack  from  which  any  preacher  now 
sutlers,  or  by  which  any  of  our  benevolent  enterprises  arc  now 
circumscribed,  is  not  attributable  to  the  want  of  means  cm  the 
part  of  the  people,  hut  to  the  want  of  a  suitable  and  efficient 
system  of  raising  the  means,  —  a  system  which  will  commend 
itself  to  the  best  convictions  of  men.  and  open,  at  the  same 
time,  to  no  objections.  Who  have  paid  the  enormous  expenses 
of  overthrowing  the  late  rebellion?  The  people.  And  who  are 
able  now  to  go  through  another  just  such  contest,  and  come  out 
of  it  solvent?  The  people.  And  these  same  people,  who  have 
readily  contributed  |3, 000,000,000  directly,  and  perhaps  half 
that  amount  indirectly,  are  competent  to  anything  within  the 
bounds  of  possibility.  Our  resources  are  unbounded,  —  they 
are  absolutely  incalculable. 

Have  you  not  witnessed,  with  inexpressible  joy  and  devout 
thanksgiving  to  God,  the  rapid  strides  we  have  made  of  bite 
years  in  our  missionary  collections?  May  not  this  be  fairly 
attributed  to  the  new  arrangement,  by  the  General  Missionary 
Committee,  of  apportioning  the  whole  amount  estimated  by 
them  to  the  several  annual  conferences,  and,  in  some  confer- 
ences, by  them  to  the  several  districts  and  societies? 

We  need  a  cheap  book,  adapted  to  popular  use,  to  be  spread 
throughout  our  entire  denomination,  treating  upon  the  subjects 
in  this  essay  in  a  familiar  and  practical  manner,  and  also  upon 
every  other  matter  relating  to  the  financial  and  prudential 
affairs  of  our  societies.  Such  a  book,  properly  prepared,  would 
be  an  incalculable  benefit  to  our  denomination. 

In  conclusion,  judging  from  the  past,  I  believe  God  intends  a 
glorious  future  for  us.  I  care  nothing,  however,  about  num- 
bers, only  as  far  as  self-denial,  zealous  activity,  heartfelt 
humility,  and  vital  piety  keep  pace  with  us.  When  we  come 
to  depend  upon  numbers,  the  ecclesiastical  historian  may  sit 
down  and  complete  our  history  by  writing  its  last  chapter. 


100  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

There  is  nothing  we  now  need  so  much,  next  to  the  grace  of 
God,  which  is  always  ready,  as  to  be  made  more  deeply 
conscious  of  our  ability  for  the  accomplishment  of  good. 
Could  we  see  this  as  God  sees  it,  nothing  we  have  ever  wit- 
nessed —  no  phenomenon  in  the  progress  of  human  events  — 
would  startle  us  more,  or  fill  us  with  greater  amazement,  as  to 
know  as  He  knows,  and  to  be  conscious  as  He  is,  of  our  latent 
capabilities  "  to  wrestle  against  principalities,  against  powers, 
against  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this  world,  against 
spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places."  Our  glorified  Founder  . 
had  something  of  this  consciousness,  and  his  entire  life  was  in 
accordance  with  his  convictions.  And  what  has  been  the  result 
of  this  ?  Why,  one  man  has  made  heaven  and  earth  jubilant 
with  joy.  "  Now  is  come  salvation,  and  strength,  and  the 
kingdom  of  our  God,  and  the  power  of  his  Christ." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  reading  of  this  paper,  by  a 
rising  vote,  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  were  presented 
to  Mr.  B.  for  his  essay. 

The  Business  Committee,  through  Dr.  Barrows,  moved 
that  the  essays  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Twombly  and  Rev.  A.  Prince 
be  read  this  evening,  and  that  Bishop  Simpson  be  invited 
to  address  the  Convention  in  reference  to  the  topics  em- 
braced in  them  at  his  discretion,  which  was  agreed  to. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned  with  singing  the  doxol- 
ogy,  and  the  benediction  by  Rev.  Geo.  Pratt,  of  the  East 
Maine  Conference. 


AFTERNOON  OF  SECOND  DAY. 

During  the  intermission,  the  Convention  and  a  large 
number  of  friends  assembled  on  the  Common  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  a  photographic  picture  of  the  members, 
grouped  around  the  Old  Elm  under  which,  seventy-six  years 
ago,  Rev.  Jesse  Lee  preached  his  first  sermon  in  Boston. 
This  noble  tree  has  been  preserved  by  the  city  government 
of  Boston   with  peculiar  care,  its   massive    trunk   being 


VISIT    TO    THE    COMMON.  101 

literally  laced  with  iron,  and  its  huge,  projecting  brandies 
suspended  by  numerous  iron  rods,  rendered  necessary  by 
the  decayed  condition  of  the  tree.  The  query  was  sug- 
gested, while  surveying  these  kindly  precautious,  What  if 
the  Methodistic  vine  had  been  as  paternally  .cared  for  by 
the  early  magistrates  ?  Would  its  splendid  colossal  propor- 
tions have  been  as  well  and  substantially  developed?  Per- 
haps so,  perhaps  not. 

[We  may  be  permitted  to  say  here,  that  but  a  short  time 
subsequently  to  the  eminently-successful  attempt  of  the 
artist  in  photographing  the  venerable  old  tree  and  the  Con- 
vention under  its  ample  branches,  a  large  portion  of  it 
was  prostrated  to  the  ground  by  a  gust  of  wind,  destroying 
much  of  the  costly  and  beautiful  iron  fence  enclosing  it.] 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  artist's  work,  the  large  crowcj, 
at  the  suggestion  of  President  Claflin,  surrounded  the  en- 
closure and  joined  in  singing  the  doxology,  "  Praise  God 
from  whom,"  etc.,  led  by  that  venerable  representative  of 
early  Methodism,  Rev.  Abraham  D.  Merrill,  of  the  New 
England  Conference. 

On  re-assembling  in  the  Temple,  for  the  afternoon  session, 
the  hymn  commencing, 

"  Jesus,  my  all,  to  heaven  is  gone," 

was  sung,  and  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Hulburd,  of 
the  Vermont  Conference. 

Rev.  A.  Moore,  of  the  Maine  Conference,  offered  the 
following  resolution,  which  was  adopted  :  — 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  on  Publication,  to  consist  of 
seven,  be  appointed  by  the  Chair,  to  whom  all  essays,  reports, 
resolutions,  and  doings  of  the  Convention  Bhall  be  referred,  to 
take  into  consideration  the  subject  of  publication,  and  report  to 
the  Convention. 

The  Chair  appointed  Revs.  A.  Moore,  of  the  Maine,  E. 
A.  Manning,  Geo.  Prentice,  and  Dr.  E.  Cooke,  of  the  New 


102  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

England,  M.  J.  Talbot,  of  the  Providence,  and  Brothers  F. 
F.  Rand,  J.  P.  Magee,  of  the  New  England  Conference,  as 
the  Committee. 

The  consideration  of  Mr.  Brown's  essay  was  resumed. 

Colonel  Dickey,  of  the  Vermont  Conference,  was  called 
for,  and  responded  :  —  Mr.  President,  I  came  down  here, 
sir,  from  Vermont,  as  a  layman  of  less  than  three  months' 
standing.  I  came  for  the  purpose  of  becoming  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  customs  and  usages  of  the  Methodists 
generally.  I  did  not  come  here  expecting  to  make  any 
remarks  upon  the  questions  that  might  arise,  but  I  praise 
the  name  of  God  that  I  ever  became  acquainted  with  the 
people  called  Methodists,  and  I  hope  that  I  may  ever  have 
this  sentiment  of  Methodism,  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  in  my  soul. 

The  subject  under  discussion,  Mr.  President,  is  one,  of 
course,  that  we  all  feel  interested  in.  It  is  clear  that  every 
layman  takes  upon  himself  the  obligation  when  he  becomes 
a  member  that  he  will  contribute  of  his  substance  towards 
the  support  of  preaching ;  but  it  seems  to  me  there  are 
many  people,  very  many,  scattered  throughout  the  coun. 
try,  that  are  not  members  of  the  Church,  that  do  not  enjoy 
the  love  of  God  in  their  hearts,  but  still  feel  that  they  are 
reaping  benefits  from  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  feel 
a  deep  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Word  of  God.  If 
they  can  feel  that  they  have  an  interest  in  the  preaching, 
they  will  be  glad  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  God's 
cause.  They  feel  that  their  families  are  receiving  benefits 
from  us,  and  are  willing  undoubtedly  to  do  something 
towards  maintaining  and  supporting  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel.  And  the  thought  has  occurred  to  me  that  if  the 
Church  would  take  the  matter  under  consideration,  and  let 
the  people  that  feel  that  they  like  to  see  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  promoted  feel  that  the  Church  is  ready  to  co- 
operate with  them,  they  will  gladly  adopt  some  measures 
for  the  support  of  preaching.     If  we  have  their  voice  in 


DISCUSSION   OF   MR.    BROWN'S   ESSAY.  103 

the  tiling,  we  have  their  interest,  and  they  are  more  anxious 

an«l  ready  to  do  something  than  it'  they  have  no  voice  in 
the  matter.  It  is  the  practice,  we  believe,  to  leave  the 
matters  of  supporting  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  to  the 
stewards.  They  fix  the  salary  for  their  preachers.  The 
people  without,  that  don't  worship,  have  no  voice  in  it, 
they  know  nothing  of  the  arrangement,  and  don't  under- 
stand this  ;  but  I  have  thought  that  if  the  churches  would 
adopt  the  plan  of  an  auxiliary  to  the  Church,  form  societies 
composed  of  all  those  who  feel  an  interest  in  the  propaga- 
tion of  Methodist  preaching,  or  those  who  feel  that  they 
desire  the  upbuilding  of  the  cause  of  Christ,  let  them  have 
a  voice  in  it,  and  ask  them  to  co-operate  with  you  and  join 
your  financial  society,  you  could  get  their  feelings  inter- 
ested ;  and  will  they  not  be  likely  to  contribute  of  their 
means  for  the  support  of  preaching  ?  And  who  knows  but 
that  it  might  be  the  means  of  bringing  many  an  individual 
to  see  the  glories  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  give  their 
hearts  to  God,  by  this  means  of  grace  ?  I  merely  throw 
out  this  simple  thought,  and  there  may  be  some  benefit 
derived  from  it. 

Hon.  J.  J.  Perry,  of  the  Blaine  Conference,  on  being 
called  for,  remarked: — Mr.  President,  I  came  here  to  this 
Convention  as  a  layman,  and  although  it  is  proper  enough 
that  these  laymen  should  be  represented  among  the  speak- 
ers, yet  it  would  have  been  much  more  gratifying  to  my 
feelings  could  I  have  been  permitted  to  sit  and  listen  to 
others.  This  subject  of  the  support  of  the  ministry  is  one 
of  the  most  important,  in  my  estimation,  that  has  come  up 
for  the  consideration  of  this  Convention.  One  great  reason, 
Mr.  President,  why  the  preachers  in  our  Church  get  no 
better  support,  is  the  fact  that  our  people  never  have  been 
educated  up  to  this  matter  of  giving  and  supporting  the 
ministry  as  they  should  have  been.  But  when  we  com- 
pare the  statistics  of  former  years,  twenty  or  thirty  years 
ago,  with  what  they  are  now,  we  shall  find  a  great  and  a 


104  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

visible  improvement  in  this  direction.  But  still,  sir,  it  is 
very  evident  that  we  don't,  at  the  present  time,  pay  our 
preachers  a  fair  equivalent  for  their  services.  If  we  had 
a  little  more  system  incorporated  into  our  Church  in  this 
particular,  perhaps  as  was  suggested  by  Mr.  Brown,  who 
addressed  us  on  this  matter  this  forenoon,  I  think  we  should 
see  a  very  visible  change  for  the  better.  But,  Mr.  Pres- 
ident, whilst  I  am  speaking  upon  this  subject,  I  wish  to  say 
a  word  or  two  upon  the  general  matter  of  giving,  —  of  the 
duty  of  the  Church  to  give,  not  only  for  the  support  of 
the  clergy,  but  for  the  other  great  benevolent  operations 
of  the  Church ;  and  this  year,  above  all  years,  is  the 
year  to  which  we  want  to  call  the  attention  of  our  people 
to  this  subject.  One  great  reason,  Mr.  President,  in  my 
estimation,  —  and  I  must  speak  of  the  clergy  just  what  I 
think,  as  we  laymen  know  some  things  that  they  don't 
know,  —  we  have  had  the  responsibility  upon  ourselves  of 
giving  them  a  fair  support,  and  we  know  what  it  is  to  go 
round  among  the  brethren  and  among  the  people  and  get 
up  the  support,  and  we  know,  too,  better  than  they  do  what 
objections  we  meet  in  this  duty.  Mr.  President,  the  clergy 
in  this  respect  have  not  done  their  duty  to  the  Church ; 
they  have  not  preached  enough  upon  this  great  subject. 
They  have  been  too  modest  in  this  matter.  The  laity  can 
stand  a  great  deal  of  this  kind  of  preaching.  [Laughter.] 
And  some  of  them  you  might  preach  to  until  the  day  of 
judgment,  and  never  get  anything  out  of  them.  [Laughter.] 
But  they  are  exceptions  to  the  general  rule,  thank  God ! 

Mr.  President,  another  thing,  the  clergy  don't  preach 
right.  They  don't  present  the  most  potent  reasons  that 
can  be  presented  to  men  to  get  the  money  out  of  them. 
Now,  how  do  you  go  to  work  to  get  money  out  of  men  ? 
There  is  a  certain  class  you  can't  get  a  cent  out  of  their 
pockets  unless  you  can  make  them  believe  it  will  pay. 
Now,  Mr.  President,  I  believe  this  :  that  the  Almighty  God 
is  as  good  a  paymaster  as  man;  and  that  whatever  he  has 


DISCUSSION   OF   MB.    BROWN'S    ESSAY.  105 

promised  in  this  direction  will  be  fulfilled.  And  I  don't 
believe,  sir,  what  is  Baid  sometimes,  for  my  experience  tells 
me  that  a  man  is  never  the  poorer  for  giving  what  he  is  able 
to  give  for  benevolent  objects.  And  therefore  I  say,  if  the 
preachers  will  come  up  to  the  people,  and  tell  them  to  give 
according  to  their  ability  and  God  will  pay  them  for  it,  and 
make  them  believe  it,  you  will  make  them  give.  Then,  if 
you  get  the  people  up  to  that  idea,  they  wont  feel  so  bad. 
Now  I  know  how  I  used  to  feel  when  I  first  began  to  give. 
If  I  took  a  five-dollar  bill  to  give  to  a  benevolent  object, 
I  used  to  think,  That  five-dollar  bill  is  gone  —  gone. 
[Merriment.]  I  shall  never  see  you  again ;  good-by ! 
[Laughter.]  Well,  that  is  the  way  a  great  many  feel;  but 
I  don't  feel  so  now,  Mr.  President.  When  I  give  ten  dol- 
lars, God  always  pays  me  back  twenty.  Now  I  believe  it. 
And  the  promises  of  the  Word  of  God  are  sure  in  this  re- 
spect; and  the  Bible  says,  "The  liberal  soul  shall  be  made 
lat,  and  they  that  water  shall  be  watered  again.''  "  He 
shall  have  measure,  good  measure,  pressed  down,  and  run- 
ning over,  and  shaken  together."  Some  of  these  ministers 
can  repeat  it  in  better  shape  than  that.  Well  now,  then, 
the  promises  of  God  are  of  the  same  import,  but  still  I  fear 
that  a  great  many  of  our  clergymen  don't  believe  it,  be- 
cause  they  never  preach  as  though  they  did.  I  heard  Dr. 
Cobleigh  preach  upon  this  subject  once,  on  the  giving  of 
the  "  tithe,"  or  one  tenth,  and  he  convinced  me,  and  I  go 
on  this  principle,  and  it  is  good.  I  could  give  you  a  con- 
siderable number  of  instances  upon  this  matter.  I  have 
been  rewarded  in  so  giving,  even  in  a  pecuniary  point  of 
view.  Now  I  believe  that  if  our  clergy  would  make  the 
people  believe  that  it  is  a  good  thing  to  give,  we  should 
have  no  difficulty  at  all  to  take  up  our  benevolent  contri- 
butions ;  and  it  would  be  done,  too,  cheerfully.  Now,  sir,  I 
have  always  contended  that  if  this  matter  is  properly  pre- 
sented to  the  people,  the  benevolent  objects  will  be  prop- 
erly supported. 

8 


106  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

Loud  calls  were  made  for  C.  C.  North,  Esq.,  of  New  York, 
who  took  the  platform  and  spoke  as  follows: — This  ap- 
pears to  me  like  a  trap  in  which  to  catch  the  laymen,  for  I 
have  observed  that  in  all  the  discussions  that  have  taken 
place  to-day,  this  is  the  only  question  in  which  you  have 
allowed  the  laymen  to  take  part !  I  was  very  much  inter- 
ested in  the  question  of  "Ministerial  Education/7  and  we 
laymen  all  are,  for  we  think  you  need  it  badly.  [Laughter.] 
And  I  was  very  much  interested  in  the  subject  of  "  Gen- 
eral Education/'  for  we  think  the  laymen  need  it  badly;  but 
you  don't  ask  the  laymen  to  speak  on  that.  But  as  soon 
as  it  came  to  the  subject  of  "  Ministerial  Support/'  you 
felt  you  needed  your  salaries  increased,  and  called  for  the 
laymen  all  over  the  house. 

Well,  brethren,  I  think  the  question  of  finances  ought 
to  be  discussed  more  and  more ;  and  I  believe  in  all  that 
the  honorable  gentleman  said  when  he  was  speaking.  But 
I  have  a  thought,  and  I  will  give  you  the  benefit  of  it. 
Poor  preach  and  poor  pay.  I  tell  you  the  law  of  compen- 
sation is  a  wonderful  law,  and  if  you  will  preach  well,  and 
labor  well,  you  will  be  very  apt  to  get  a  comfortable 
support.  I  suppose  that  if  I  was  in  my  Conference,  to 
which  I  belong,  I  might  say  a  great  many  things  and  be 
understood,  and  I  might  say  the  same  things  here  and 
be  misunderstood ;  and  I  may  as  well  premise  by  saying 
that  I  have  always  worshipped  the  Methodist  ministers. 
You  can't  get  up  a  collection  of  ministers  anywhere  unless 
I  want  to  be  among  them.  So  that  if  I  say  some  things  a 
little  hard,  you  wont  take  it  for  granted  that  I  don't  love 
the  ministers.  Well  now,  the  thought  is  just  this  :  that  the 
ministers  are  all  very  much  mistaken  if  they  have  thought 
that  they  make  the  most  sacrifices  in  the  world.  I  think 
they  have  the  best  times  of  any  class  in  the  community. 
I  hear  a  great  deal  about  the  self-denial,  the  sacrifices,  of 
the  ministers  !  They  preach  twice  on  Sunday,  and  have  a 
good  time  most  of  the  rest  of  the  week.     I  notice  our  New 


107 


York  preachers,  and  I  reckon  it  is  the  same  everywhere ; 
they  get  through  with  two  sermons,  and  Monday  morning 
they  seem  all  lounging  down  easily  towards  the  Methodist 

book  concern,  go  into  the  preachers'  meeting,  and  have  a 
delightful  time  in  discussion,  and  go  home  lazily.  But  then 
they  take  it  very  leisurely  during  all  the  other  days. 
When  I  have  all  my  responsibilities  as  a  business  man, 
as  a  merchant,  the  incessant  wear  and  tear  upon  me,  I 
sometimes  long  for  the  ministry,  and  wish  I  was  in  it. 
[Continued  laughter  and  applause.]  I  have  seen  one  or 
two  staid-looking  men  get  up  and  talk  about  the  sacrifices 
of  the  ministry,  and  I  have  thought  to  myself,  "  My  dear 
good  friend,  if  it  were  not  for  the  Methodist  ministry,  you 
would  be  hammering  at  the  anvil  or  planing  at  the  bench. 
You  talk  about  sacrifices  !  "Why,  Methodism  and  the  minis- 
try has  made  you  a  gentleman."  [Laughter.]  Xo,  my 
brethren,  it  is  an  actual  fact,  you  are  all  of  the  best  class  in 
the  world,  because  all  your  associations  with  each  other 
are  the  best ;  the  position  you  occupy  of  intercourse  with 
each  other  is  always  intelligent,  courteous,  Christianly ; 
you  enjoy  and  read  all  the  "  Quarterly  Reviews,"  down 
to  the  "  Voice  of  the  Old  Brewery ; "  and  the  best  of  it  is, 
you  have  the  leisure  to  read  them,  and  to  rummage  your 
libraries,  to  visit  good  society,  and  get  good  dinners.  I 
tell  you,  you  have  a  glorious  life  1  [Laughter  and  ap- 
plause.] I  don't  feel  any  particular  sorrow  for  you,  but  I 
feel  very  sorry  for  the  minister's  wife.  I  feel  in  my  heart 
of  hearts  a  sorrow  for  the  minister's  wife,  to  be  obliged  to 
bundle  up,  break  up  all  associations,  pack  up  the  house 
things,  and  go  away  to  a  new  place  among  strangers,  and 
be  examined,  and  have  words  said  about  her.  I  feel  sorry 
for  the  minister's  wife,  and  yet,  don't  you  know  that  you 
move  much  less  than  "some  of  us  do?  Coming  down  now 
to  the  sober  facts  in  the  case,  for  I  think  you  occupy  the 
best  position  in  the  world,  it  is  the  best  thing  in  the  world 
to  be  a  minister,  especially  a  Methodist  minister.     I  should 


108  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

not  like  to  be  a  minister  of  another  denomination,  for  I 
should  not  be  sure  of  having  an  appointment !  [Laughter.] 
But  I  tell  you  that  we  are  informed  that  a  man  is  never  so 
happy  as  when  he  has  one,  and  I  don't  see  why  a  Methodist 
minister  ought  not  to  be  always  happy.  And  I  go  in  for  a 
liberal  support  of  the  ministry  if  they  do  all  their  duty. 
The  subject  of  giving  is  having  an  advance.  I  believe 
that  the  spirit  of  giving  from  conscientious  principle  is 
pervading  the  Church.  The  great  trouble  is,  that  some  of 
our  wealthy  men  are  giving  freely  to  satisfy  their  con- 
sciences by  their  giving.  That  is  the  fault  in  the  Church 
now.  We  attempt  to  satisfy  our  consciences  by  our  large 
liberality,  and  the  consequence  is  that  a  great  many  of  our 
talented  men  resign  their  positions  as  laborers,  Sunday- 
school  and  class-meeting  men,  and  satisfy  their  consciences 
by  their  liberal  gifts ;  whereas  the  talented  should  be 
scattered  about,  giving  their  wealth  and  talent,  until  they 
are  able  to  work  no  longer. 

But  there  will  be  a  reaction,  and  you  will  find  that  men 
are  beginning  to  work  this  year  as  they  have  not  worked 
before,  and  we  shall  see  the  millennium  when  the  labor  and 
wealth  of  the  Church  shall  be  consecrated  to  the  cause  of 
Christ. 

Hon.  Thomas  Kniel,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference,  appeared 
after  repeated  calls,  and  said :  —  Mr.  President,  I  hardly 
know  what  subject  is  before  the  Convention,  but  I  am 
told  that  it  is  upon  the  subject  of  supporting  the  minis- 
try. I  am  taken,  of  course,  as  everybody  can  see,  quite 
by  surprise ;  but  yet  this  is  not  a  subject  upon  which  I 
have  never  had  any  thought.  It  is  a  subject  that  I  sup- 
pose every  layman  has  had  his  thought  upon,  more  or 
less.  That  our  ministry  need,  and  ought  to  receive,  the 
adequate  support  of  the  Church,  no  man  of  good  sense, 
endowed  with  the  common  instincts  of  humanity,  can 
deny. 

The  old  saying  of  Scripture  (I  say  old  because  it  comes 


discussion  of  mii.  brown's  essay.  109 

down  to  us  from  before  the  days  of  tlic  Saviour  himself)  is 
that  the  "  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire."  If  they  have  said 
that  "In  our  opinion  the  Great  BeingfDU  high  has  called 
you  into  his  vineyard;  you  must  separate  yourself  from  all 

worldly  pursuits/'  then  it  is  the  duty  of  every  man  who 
has  assisted  in  calling  these  men,  to  aid  in  the  support  of 
these  men.  If  it  is  a  duty  to  preach  the  gospel,  it  is  a  duty 
to  aid  those  who  preach  the  gospel ;  and  if  he  is  to  be  sup- 
ported, he  is  to  be  supported  by  those  calling  him.  If  I 
were  to  ask  a  man  to  become  a  laborer  for  me,  and  refuse 
to  pay  him,  what  would  you  say  of  me  ?  I  am  not  an 
honest  man.  Then  I  say,  upon  the  principles  of  common 
honesty,  the  Church  should  give  these  men  a  sufficient 
and  adequate  support.  These  men  should  never  suffer  for 
the  common  wants  and  conveniences  of  life.  If  the  min- 
istry of  the  Church  is  to  be  able,  if  the  ministry  of  the 
Church  is  to  be  efficient,  if  the  ministry  of  the  Church  is 
to  be  successful,  these  men  should  give  their  entire  ener- 
gies to  the  great  work  before  them.  It  is  enough  to  fill 
the  heart  of  any  man,  and  fill  the  brain  of  any  man,  to  carry 
on  before  the  Church,  and  lead  successfully,  the  great 
institutions  of  men  connected  with  the  gospel  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

Perhaps  we  can  apologize  for  the  scanty  support  given 
to  our  ministry  in  the  past.  Our  Church  has  had  a  strain 
from  the  earliest  day  of  our  birth  to  meet  the  demands 
made  upon  her.  We  have  had  schools  of  learning  to  build, 
and  all  the  paraphernalia  of  the  organization  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  to  introduce  and  carry  forward;  but  to-day, 
standing  as  we  do  a  hundred  years  from  the  birth  of  the 
Church,  taking  a  broad  view  of  the  resources  of  our 
Church,  we  find  that  she  is,  in  all  respects,  equal  to  every 
emergency,  financial  as  well  as  every  other.  Tell  me  that 
the  Methodist  Church  is  stinted  in  any  of  her  resources; 
tell  me  that  she  has  not  the  men  and  means  to  do  anything 
and  everything  that  our  great  Father  on  high  requires  us 


110  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

to  do  !  Standing  as  Ave  do  at  the  end  of  the  century,  and 
measuring  our  strength  and  surveying  our  fields,  we 
cannot  be  honest  men,  and  successful  as  a  Church,  and 
neglect  the  full  and  adequate  support  of  the  Christian  min- 
istry. I  speak  of  what  is  necessary  to  carry  forward  in  the 
future  the  great  enterprises  pressing  upon  us,  and  in  which 
we  expect  that  the  ministers  will  take  the  lead.  The  day 
is  coming  when  the  layman  shall  stand  by  the  pastor,  and 
the  pastor  by  the  layman,  in  all  the  councils  of  the  Church. 
That  day  is  coming  speedily.  It  will  come  !  It  will  come 
before  you  and  I  shall  be  called  to  go  over  the  river,  and 
then,  layman  and  pastor,  preacher  and  people,  standing  in 
the  gap,  pressing  forward  in  all  the  great  works  of  the 
Christian  ministry,  the  Christian  religion,  I  ask  you  what 
is  going  to  impede  the  onward  progress  of  such  a  Church 
as  we  recognize  to-day  within  the  bounds  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church?      [Applause.] 

Mr.  President,  I  rejoice  in  the  future  more  than 
I  rejoice  in  the  past.  And  when  I  survey  the  past, 
when  I  look  at  the  Church,  what  she  is  to-day,  and 
think  what  she  was  a  hundred  years  ago,  it  is 
marvelous,  marvelous.  Nothing  but  almighty  power  and 
almighty  grace  could  have  accomplished  what  we  see 
to-day.  But  this  is  only  the  beginning.  The  Church  is 
simply  throwing  off  her  swaddling-bands,  throwing  off  her 
fetters.  Let  her  go  free  in  all  her  energies,  [great  ap- 
plause] in  all  her  resources  !  When  that  day  shall  come, 
we  will  take  the  world.  We  have  the  promise  of  Him  who 
cannot  lie.  We  will  take  the  world.  [Continued  applause 
and  "  Amens."] 

Bev.  Mr.  Quimby,  of  the  N.  H.  Conference:  —  I  was  a 
poor,  ignorant  child  when  the  Church  took  me  from  the* 
plough  and  put  me  into  the  ministry,  thirty -five  and  a  half 
years  since  ;  and,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  I  have  had  health 
to  labor  so  that  I  have  not  lost  five  Sabbaths  in  all  that 
time.     And  my  labors  between  the  Sabbaths  have  not  been 


DISCUSSION   OF  MR.   BROWN'S   ESSAY.  Ill 

as  the  brother  represented.  Monday  lias  been  the  hardest 
day  of  the  week,  looking  out  for  my  finances,  and  the  next 
four  days  of  the  week  have  been  taken  up  in  the  work  of 
the  apostles,  —  visiting  from  house  to  house,  talking  and 
praying  with  them.  From  fifteen  to  thirty  families  a  day 
I  have  called  upon.  Saturday  I  have  devoted  to  my  study. 
I  supposed,  when  I  commenced,  1  should  want,  if  I  was  a 
Methodist  traveling  preacher ;  but  I  have  always  had  food 
to  eat  and  raiment  to  put  on,  have  always  had  a  family  and 
been  in  comfortable  circumstances.  True,  my  receipts 
would  not  average  $300  per  year,  but  we  have  had  enough 
and  to  spare  ("  Amens  "  from  many) ;  and  I  render  thanks 
to  God  and  the  Church  for  what  they  have  done  for  me. 

Dr.  N.  G.  Ladd,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference :  —  I  think, 
brethren,  that  there  were  a  few  sentiments  advanced  by 
one  of  the  speakers  that  rather  bore  hard  upon  the  lay- 
men, carrying  the  idea  that  they  were  stingy.  And  I 
want  to  tell  you  a  little  about  these  things.  I  have  been 
connected  with  the  Methodist  Church  thirty-eight  years, 
and  I  have  been  acquainted  with  it  fifty  years,  in  three 
different  States.  I  have  held  a  few  little  offices  in  the 
Church,  and  it  has  been  my  duty  to  strive  to  raise  sub- 
scriptions for  the  support  of  the  ministry  ;  and  I  will  tell 
you  the  greatest  objection  I  meet  in  getting  persons  to 
subscribe,  —  the  want  of  ministerial  attention.  I  appeal 
to  my  brethren  here,  if  this  is  not  their  experience.  I 
come  to  the  people  in  what  is  called  the  u  outside  row," 
and  ask  them  to  subscribe.  "  You  have  got  your  minister 
in  the  village ;  he  never  comes  to  me,  and  you  must  take 
care  of  him."  I  appeal  to  my  brethren,  if  this  is  not  the 
truth.  And  I  think  if  the  ministry  would  hoe  the  "  outside 
row  "  well,  and  attend  to  the  poor,  there  would  be  no  com- 
plaint in  this;  matter.  I  am  sorry  to  say  it,  that  the  poor, 
in  many  instances,  are  neglected.  There  are  a  thousand 
rich  men  who  are  noticed  by  the  minister,  but  there  are 
many  poor  people  who  don't  get  a  call  from  the  minister 


112  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONTENTION. 

once  in  a  year  or  in  three  years.  Brethren  in  the  min- 
istry, when  you  come  to  the  "  outside  row/'  hoe  the  "  out- 
side row"  well,  and  it  will  pay  you  well. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hamilton,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference,  offered 
a  resolution  touching  the  question  of  publishing  Bro. 
Brown's  essay,  which  was  referred  to  the  Business  Com- 
mittee under  the  rules  of  the  Convention. 

Rev.  Dr.  Barrows,  of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference, 
now  read  the  following  essay  on  Ministerial  Transfers :  — 
"  Would  a  more  extensive  system  of  Ministerial  Transfers 
subserve  the  interests  of  the  Church?"  — 

"When  John  Wesley  said,  "The  world  is  my  parish,"  he 
spoke  for  more  ministers,  and  uttered  a  broader  truth  prob- 
ably, than  he  himself  comprehended  ;  for  these  few  words 
embody  the  spirit,  the  true  and  noble  spirit,  of  every  one  of 
ten  thousand  itinerant  ministers.  Such  a  ministry  is  one 
whose  pastoral  relations  are  changed  at  regular  times,  and  by 
regularly-constituted  authorities,  not  recognizing  either  the 
pastor  or  Church  as  contracting  parties,  their  right  having 
been  surrendered  b}T  mutual  consent  for  the  greater  advantages 
supposed  to  be  gained  thereby.  The  length  of  time  for  such 
a  pastoral  service  is  a  matter  of  conventional  arrangement, 
and  has  varied  from  six  months  to  six  years.  The  utility  of 
an  itinerant  ministry  has  its  foundation  in  the  philosophy  of 
the  human  mind.  God  has  differently  constituted  human 
minds,  and  he  has  called  into  his  ministry  a  corresponding 
variety  of  talent,  —  the  powerful  reasoner,  the  "  son  of  conso- 
lation," comforting  the  people  of  the  Lord,  the  gentle  and 
tender  teacher,  and  a  Boanerges.  One  has  a  mission  to  break 
up  the  fallow  ground  of  sinful  hearts  ;  another,  to  feed  the 
flock  of  Christ,  skillful  only  in  Christian  nurture.  This  pleas- 
ing ministerial  variety  in  gift,  however,  is  no  greater  than  the 
demands  of  the  Church  and  diversities  of  tastes  among  the 
people.  Little  argument  is  required  to  show  that  usefulness 
in  preaching  the  gospel  to  men  is  in  exact  proportion  to  the 
adaptation  of  ministerial  gifts  to  their  precise  demands  among 
the  hearers.     Non-adaptation  results,  first,  in  cold  indifference, 


REV.    DR.    BARBOW'S    ESSAY.  113 

then  revulsion.  Small  congregations,  discouraged  clergymen, 
and  general  dilapidation  and  decay  follow.     But  with  happy 

adaptations,  the  reverse  of  all  this  follows.  The  logical  con- 
clusion is,  that  when  a  pastor,  for  a  suitahle  length  of  time, 
has  use  I  his  peculiar  talent  to  the  best  advantage  in  a  given 
congregation,  to  the  delight  and  profit  of  all  such  as  are  pleased 
and  profited  by  that  sort  of  gilt,  he  should  go  to  another  peo- 
ple and  for  two  reasons:  (1.)  To  give  place,  where  he  is,  to 
another  and  different  gift  to  profit  those  of  different  capacity 
and  taste.  ('2.)  To  find  again,  elsewhere,  his  own  most  ap- 
propriate field  ;  possibly  in  that  very  congregation  made  vacant 
by  his  successor.     Thus,  in  turn,  all  are  served. 

Ten  thousand  ministers  of  Christ  following  each  other,  at 
regular  intervals,  in  this  successive  adaptation  of  gifts,  with  the 
regularity  of  clock-work,  other  things  being  equal,  one  might 
suppose  would  far  exceed  all  settled  pastorates  in  usefulness, 
nor  does  history  seem  to  contradict  the  supposition.  This 
glance  at  the  nature  and  purposes  of  an  itinerant  ministry,  as 
well  as  its  usefulness,  has  prepared  our  way  to  consider  the 
more  specific  subject  of  this  essay ;  namely,  That  when  such 
traveling  ministers  are  organized  into  annual  Conferences,  a  more 
frequent  transfer  from  Conference  to  Conference  would  augment 
its  usefulness.  This  question  could  be  settled  without  much 
circumlocution  by  asking  another  ;  namely,  Do  those  arbitrary 
or  imaginary  lines,  called  "  Conference  boundaries,"  overthrow 
this  deep-laid  philosophy  or  limit  the  truth  of  these  fundamen- 
tal principles?  Does  this  kind  of  ministry  work  any  better 
one  side  of  Conference  lines  than  the  other?  Have  the  minis- 
ters or  the  people  an}'  more  rights  or  interests  in  it  in  one  place 
or  locality  than  in  another?  Does  God  confine  his  approval  of 
it  by  geographical  boundaries  ?  If  not,  our  main  question  is 
settled  at  once  and  forever. 

But  we  are  told  that  there  are  serious  objections  to  frequent 
transfers  from  one  Conference  to  another.  It  is  said  to  in- 
volve heavy  sacrifices  to  transferred  men,  —  loss  of  home, 
ministerial  standing,  and  reputation.  Let  this  be  admitted; 
but  does  that  show  it  should  not  be  practised?  Then  should 
the  itinerancy,  as  a  whole,  be  abandoned  ;  for  who  does  not 


114  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

knoio  and  feel  this  to  be  one  of  the  universal  consequences  al- 
ways attending  it, — yes,  an  argument  we  use  in  its  defence, 
showing  its  unselfish  character.  It  is  this  very  going  away 
from  one's  home  and  friends,  and  among  strangers,  that  gives 
the  increased  power  for  doing  good,  as  we  have  seen.  One  is 
the  exact  complement  of  the  other. 

To  accomplish  great  good,  small  sacrifices  are  always  a  si?ie 
qua  non.  What  involves  no  sacrifices  never  accomplishes  any- 
thing to  save  our  race.  A  man  who  is  not  willing  to  suffer 
reproach  even,  for  being  put  into  what  are  judged  the  most 
useful  fields  for  him,  has  not  the  spirit  of  his  Master,  nor  of  a 
true  itinerant.  If  he  loses  in  reputation,  he  does  not  in  char- 
acter. 

It  is  said  the  Conferences  are  not  pleased  to  receive  trans- 
fers. Why  not  ?  Who  is  injured  ?  Whose  rights  have  been 
taken  away  ?  As  stationed  preachers,  we  have  no  rights  in  any 
Church  except  during  our  pastoral  term  ;  nor  at  its  close  have 
we  any  rights  in  any  one  Church  more  than  another,  nor  have 
the  people  any  exclusive  rights  in  us.  Why,  then,  should  any 
one  set  bounds  and  bars  to  the  itinerancy,  opposing  transfers 
when  they  are  only  carrying  out  the  fundamental  principle 
which  underlies  it,  —  the  best  possible  distribution  of  all  our 
available  talent  to  its  demands,  and  on  the  largest  possible 
scale.  Do  these  opposing  parties  propose  to  keep  out  of  their 
Conferences  and  neighborhoods  any  pulpit  supply  judged  to  be 
needed?  This  would  exhibit  a  line  of  selfishness,  no  more 
compatible  with  the  Christian  ministry  than  with  the  Christian 
character.  Can  ministers  so  far  forget  trfeir  calling  as  to  at- 
tempt to  impose  their  unsought  and  undesired  services  to  the 
exclusion  of  men  judged  better  suited  to  the  people  by  all 
parties  but  themselves?  This  is  the  spirit  of  the  world,  not  of 
Christ ;  and,  if  fully  carried  out,  would  overthrow,  ultimately* 
the  itinerancy,  and  enthrone  the  spirit  of  every  man  and  every 
Church  for  themselves,  regardless  of  others'  necessities.  Let 
it  not  be  so  much  as  once  named  among  us.  It  is  also  asserted 
that  transferred  men  have  no  right  to  take  the  best  appoint- 
ments, built  up  by  other  ministers.  Local  churches  do  not  be- 
long to  itinerant  ministers,  neither  have  they  any  vested  rights 


REV.    DR.    BARROW'S    ESSAY.  115 

in  them.  If  they  have  become  strong  and  desirable,  they  have 
grown  to  this  under  the  labors  of  exchanging  ministry,  — pretty 
good  evidence  they  ma}'  live  and  thrive  by  the  same  means. 
Besides,  God  has  had  something  to  do  with  their  upbuilding, 
and  they  belong  to  him  !  Were  these  transferred  men  imposing 
themselves  upon  these  churches,  unsought  by  the  people,  and 
unsolicited  b}-  the  appointing  power,  this  objection  would  be 
forcible,  showing  the  aspirant  selfish,  obtruding,  and  im- 
modest. 

It  is  further  objected  that  these  transfers  are  the  result  of 
M  negotiation  and  bargain  in  advance."  This  objection,  like  the 
metallic  image  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  dream,  —  part  iron  and  part 
cla}-,  —  is,  no  doubt,  partly  true  and  partly  false.  It  is  well 
known  that  such  transfers  are  supposed  to  require  the  consent 
and  desire  of  three  parties  ;  namely,  the  minister,  the  Church, 
and  the  Episcopacy.  Either  party  declining,  it  fails.  Now, 
while  we  admit  that  a  minister  and  society  sometimes  do  enter 
into  prospective  arrangements  prematurely,  and  too  decidedly, 
in  not  submitting  it  wholly  to  the  judgment  of  the  stationing 
authority,  yet  we  insist  it  is  no  infraction  of  Methodism  or 
Christian  propriety  for  churches  to  request,  and  ministers  to 
assent,  on  the  above-named  condition,  to  such  arrangements  in 
advance  of  the  Conference  when  all  parties  agree  to  abide  the 
official  decision.  No  matter  how  legitimately  and  orderly 
these  transfers  are  made,  in  nineteen  cases  out  of  twenty  the 
cry  is  raised  by  certain  parties  on  all  occasions,  "  Negotia- 
tions "  —  "  Stationing  themselves  "  — "  Getting  appointments 
in  advance."  Much  groundless  suspicion  and  unkind  talk  at- 
tend these  transfers,  greatly  impeding  them.  It  should  be, 
with  all  the  lovers  of  Zion,  occasion  of  joy  and  congratulation 
that  suitable  men  can  be  found  anywhere  whose  labors  are  ap- 
preciated and  sought  for ;  and  let  us  consent  to  live  in  hope  it 
may  be  so  with  us.  If  by  death,  sickness,  location,  or  removal, 
our  ministry  in  any  locality  becomes  depleted,  so  that  the 
churches  sutler,  cannot  that  deficiency  be  supplied  from  abroad 
by  the  proper  authorities,  —  the  "  universal  pastors  "  set  for  that 
very  purpose,  lifted  above  local  attachments  and  neighborhood 
prejudices,  without  all  this  ignoble  suspicion? 


116  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

But  we  think  we  have  a  right  to  make  this  one  demand  of 
the  stationing  authorities :  namely,  that  all  the  transfers  shall 
not  be  in  the  direction  of  large  appointments  and  large  salaries, 
but,  when  necessity  requires,  reverse  the  process.  And  if  the 
incumbents  refuse  to  go,  let  them  have  the  credit  of  following 
for  the  loaves  and  fishes.  Those  pastors  who  have  been  for  a 
time  among  the  large  and  lucrative  stations  can  well  afford, 
for  a  season,  to  take  their  turn  among  the  country  appoint- 
ments, which  they  also  greatly  need  to  recuperate  their  over- 
taxed brains  and  nervous  energies,  —  one  of  the  happy  features 
of  the  S3Tstem. 

But  before  a  free  and  successful  system  of  transfers  can  be 
inaugurated,  several  modifications  are  needed.  'Aspiring  men 
must  cease  to  push  their  own  wa}T  upward  faster  than  the  peo- 
ple desire  it,  especially  where  the}^  are  but  imperfectly  known. 
And  the  people  must  cease  to  select  their  pastors  in  advance 
and  independently  of  the  stationing  authority,  especially  such 
pastors  as  are  not  well  known  among  them,  otherwise  they  will 
continue  to  embarrass  themselves  and  injure  their  pastors,  as 
they  often  do  now.  When  such  transfers  are  made,  and  in  a 
proper  way,  the  transferred  men  must  not  be  ostracised  by  a 
jealous  Conference  nor  ignored  by  the  Episcopac}',  whose 
wishes  they  have  obeyed  ;  for  these  men,  properly  transferred, 
are  entitled  to  all  and  more  than  ordinary  respect,  if  the}-  have 
yielded  to  the  wishes  of  others  at  their  own  expense.  Ex- 
changing old  friends  and  well-earned  reputations  and  warm 
sympathies  for  jealous  looks,  cold  shoulders,  and  curt  remarks, 
all  for  the  good  of  the  cause  even,  is  not  the  most  agreeable. 

Such  being  some  of  the  seemingly  necessaiy  embarrassments 
attending  this  feature  of  our  econom}^  it  should  be  abandoned, 
unless  it  shows  some  marked  advantages. 

We  come  now  to  consider  briefly  the  valuable  results  coming 
of  a  free  exchange  of  ministers  from  Conference  to  Conference. 
In  addition  to  those  peculiar  to  the  itinerancy  as  a  whole,  it  is 
a  great  source  of  social  and  moral  improvement  to  the  minis- 
ters themselves.  It  gives  them  -broader  views  of  society  ;  the 
manners  and  habits  of  people  generally  revealing  to  them,  per- 
haps, their  own  previous  contracted  views  and  prejudiced  feel- 


REV.    DR.    BARROW'S   ESSAY.  117 

ings.  Long  and  exclusive  confinement  to  one  locality,  and  one 
class  of  usages,  habits;,  and  manners,  is  unfriendly  to  progress, 
either  mental,  social,  or  moral.  We  arc  slow  to  believe  that 
any  improvement  can  be  engrafted  on  us  or  our  usages  until 
they  are  thrust  upon  us,  or  we  are  thrust  Into  their  midst. 
The  well-read  or  thoroughly-travelled  man  is  the  only  proves 
sive  man  ;  and  if  some  fogyism  does  not  pertain  to  all  others, 
they  are  quite  fortunate.  Conferences,  like  neighborhoods  and 
families,  are  inclined  to  fall  into  staid  usages  and  routine 
methods,  which  need  to  be  broken  in  upon.  It  would  add  im- 
mensely, not  only  to  the  accomplishment,  but  also  to  the  use- 
fulness, of  a  thousand  Eastern  ministers  to  live  and  labor  two 
years  in  the  Western  or  Middle  Conferences  ;  and  not  less  so  of 
the  Western  or  Middle  Conference  ministers  to  spend  as  long  a 
time  in  the  East.  These  Eastern  men,  inferior  to  none  in  intel- 
ligence and  strength,  would  be  greatly  benefited  by  imbibing 
something  of  the  energy,  vivacity,  and  enterprise  of  the  West- 
ern men.  The  Western  men,  inferior  to  none  in  the  last-named 
particulars,  would  be  much  improved  by  close  contact  for  a 
while  with  the  thorough  drill,  systematic  and  persistent  plod- 
ding of  the  East.  What  is  true  respecting  these  reciprocal 
advantages  among  the  clergymen,  would  be  just  as  true,  and  far 
more  extensively  so,  among  the  churches  and  congregations 
East  and  West.  How  vastly  their  power  would  be  increased, 
could  the}-  impart  to  each  other  some  of  their  own  strongly- 
marked  peculiarities  !  Many  churches  in  the  East  are  reposing 
on  a  dead  orthodox}',  staid  and  regular,  but  non-progressive, 
simply  for  lack  of  Western  tire,  energy,  and  enterprise.  How 
man}-  western  churches,  embodying  much  numerical  and  pe- 
cuniary strength,  fail  to  make  the  most  of  their  facilities 
through  lack  of  systematic,  intelligent  organizing,  and  execu- 
tive ability,  so  essential  to  enlightened  and  growing  piety  in 
the  Church  !  Great  good  has  already  come  to  our  Church 
through  our  limited  transfers,  which  should  lead  us  to  a  more 
regular  and  systematic  use  of  this  means. 

Other  advantages  quite  as  personal,  but  no  less  obvious,  of 
great  moment,  must  be  noticed.  Under  the  exhaustive  labors 
and  studies  incident   to  an  itinerant  ministry,  we  Und  the 


118  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

wear  and  tear  on  our  ministry  most  fearful !  No  clergymen  are 
so  early  worn  out  or  dead  as  ours,  especially  since  the  general 
abandonment  of  the  circuit.  Every  year's  experiment  in 
hygiene  and  medical  practice  is  deepening  the  conviction  that 
frequent  and  decided  changes  of  climate,  especially  with  men 
of  study,  business,  or  sedentary  habits,  is  absolutely  essential 
for  health  and  long  life.  Under  this  growing  conviction,  mil- 
lions  of  dollars  are  spent  every  3-ear  by  our  own  countrymen ! 
What  a  glorious  compensating  providence  we  have  in  our  own 
itinerancy,  with  the  great  variety  of  our  climate,  combining 
nearly  every  climate  on  the  globe  !  With  us  little  is  needed  to 
avail  ourselves  of  what  costs  others  millions,  but  a  more  ex- 
tensive and  systematic  tfansfer,  without  the  loss  of  one  addi- 
tional day's  time  or  dollar  of  money,  —  carrying  on,  right  on,  all 
the  time  our  great  work  of  usefulness  !  Then  we  can  fly  to  the 
mountains,  to  the  sea-coast,  to  the  balmy  South,  or  the  open  and 
boundless  West.  A  hundred  clergymen  to-day,  along  the  sea- 
coast  and  in  the  New  England  States,  are  either  laid  aside,  suffer- 
ing or  threatened  with  lung  or  bronchial  diseases,  who  might  be, 
or  might  have  been,  relieved  and  had  years  of  usefulness  added 
to  their  lives  by  timely  removals  West  and  South,  to  climates 
better  adapted  to  their  constitutions.  Hundreds  of  our  minis- 
ters in  the  South  and  West,  debilitated  and  enervated  by  long 
residence  in  climates  not  adapted  to  them,  might  have  years  of 
useful  and  happy  lives  added  to  them  by  the  bracing  atmos- 
phere of  our  vigorous  climate.  All  this  desirable  change,  back 
and  forth,  so  far  from  operating  at  all  against  our  regular 
work  as  ministers,  as  we  have  shown,  furnishes  exactly  the 
needed  gifts,  both  East  and  West,  for  the  greatest  possible 
good.  Verily,  our  itinerancy  brings  not  toils  and  sacrifices 
only,  but  some  personal  reliefs  Not  a  few  valuable  lives  have 
already  been  saved  among  us  by  this  happy  process.  Many, 
however,  are  being  lost  to  the  Church  every  year  for  want  of  it. 
More  frequent  and  extensive  transfers  would  give  more  gen- 
erally our  churches  fresh  ministerial  and  pastoral  gifts,  and  the 
ministers  fresh  fields,  and  then  greatly  prolong  their  terms  of 
acceptable  and  useful  labor.  In  and  around  every  considerable 
city  there  is  a  class  of  men  who,  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years, 


DISCUSSION   OF  DR.    BARROW'S    ESSAY.  110 

have  circulated  only  in  that  small  compass,  amounting  almost 
to  settled  pastorates,  till  both  the  ministers  and  people  are  now 
each  really  needing,  if  not  desiring,  fresh  supplies.  If  ten  or 
twenty  men  of  this  class  should  be  found  in  the  vicinity  of 
Boston,  and  as  many  more  in  New  York,  what  a  boon  it  would 
be  to  them  and  the  people,  too,  to  transfer  them  into  each 
other's  places !  In  these  new  fields  their  labors,  being  fresh 
and  new  to  the  people,  would  be  just  about  so  much  added  to 
their  effective  ministry.  Why  is  it  not  done  ?  Because  of  the 
obstacles  we  have  noticed  being  in  the  way !  Can  we  afford 
to  sustain  such  a  loss  to  the  Church  and  ministry  as  this  every 
year,  with  not  one  single  valid  reason  or  necessity  for  it,  and  a 
score  of  reasons  against  it  ?  Our  itinerancy  is  wrong  from  be- 
ginning to  end,  or  these  restrictions  on  transfers  are  wrong, 
for  they  confront  each  other  at  every  step  of  our  progress. 

Rev.  A.  F.  Bailey,  of  the  N.  E.  Conference :  —  Confer- 
ences are  opposed  to  transfers,  as  it  is  said.  Well,  why  ? 
Because  transfers  are  apt  to  hit  Conferences  on  a  sore 
spot.  There  are  sore  spots  in  our  Conferences,  arising 
out  of  the  appointment  of  ministers,  and  those  who  have 
been  occupying  stations  in  the  rural  districts  know  some- 
thing about  it  that  those  working  in  cities  don't.  Now, 
sir,  we  are  perfectly  willing  to  be  Methodistic,  but  we 
don't  like  this  idea  of  foisting  in  upon  us  the  idea  of  Con- 
gregationalism. And  when  we  see  this  system  almost 
adopted  on  the  part  of  certain  privileged  ones,  —  priv- 
ileged churches,  privileged  ministers,  —  by  which  the 
whole  thing  pertaining  to  the  itinerancy  is  laid  aside,  and 
by  which  all  the  dough-cakes  and  cookies  are  given  to  the 
few,  —  to  those  who  happen  to  live  in  the  cities,  and  have 
large  charges  and  plethoric  pockets,  —  when  the  country 
feels,  as  it  does  feel,  that  they  would  like  to  have  some  of 
these  good  pickings,  and  they  see  that  they  are,  from  year 
to  year,  just  left  out  in  the  cold,  and  they  must  take  this, 
that,  and  the  other  brother,  —  must  take  him,  or  have 
nobody,  a  sort  of  Hobson's  choice,  —  why,  it  is  natural 


120  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

enough,  sir,  when  you  come  to  the  matter  of  special  trans- 
fers, and  here  is  coming  a  popular  man  to  the  Tremont 
Streets,  and  Bromfields,  and  Calvarys,  and  St.  Pauls,  and 
the  like,  and  when  they,  there  in  the  "  outside  row,"  see 
these  kinds  of  processes  going  on  from  year  to  year,  and 
touching  the  sore  spots  all  the  time,  I  tell  you,  Mr.  Presi- 
dent, that  it  is  natural  enough  for  Conferences  to  feel  a 
little  opposed  to  transfers  after  that  sort.  We  have  no 
objection  to  transfers  in  general,  provided  you  will  give  a 
good  man  a  position  such  as  Sudbury,  for  instance,  —  a 
good  sort  of  place  in  the  Conference,  according  to  its  size. 
We  feel  that  it  is  a  little  awkward,  according  to  the  old- 
fashioned  idea  of  the  old  concern.  It  puts  me  in  mind  of 
the  definition  of  a  religious  system  by  the  negro  preacher. 
He  said  our  Christian  system  is  like  a  wheel;  Jesus  Christ 
is  the  hub,  Christians  are  the  spokes,  and  the  grace  of  God 
is  the  rim  that  binds  us  all  together.  Now,  it  is  a  very 
peculiar  fact,  as  the  negro  said,  that  the  nearer  the 
preacher  gets  to  the  hub,  the  better  preacher  he  is ;  and 
we  are  apt  to  feel  that  the  nearer  we  get  to  these  "  hubs," 
the  better  preachers  we  are.  We  can  gravitate  that  way 
towards  the  "  hub."  [Laughter  and  applause.]  But  con- 
cerning transfers  and  appointments,  it  is  a  matter  of  Dis- 
cipline to  me,  and  it  is  to  others.  I  don't  believe  that  my 
Presiding  Elders  would  say  that  I  have  quarreled  about  my 
stations.  It  is  natural  enough  that  some  of  us,  in  such 
Conferences  as  the  New  England  Conference,  should  occa- 
sionally think  that  some  of  us  are  just  as  competent  to  fill 
some  of  your  stations  as  well  as  some  others.  Perhaps 
nature  ought  to  be  crucified ;  and,  as  things  are  working 
now,  nature  is  crucified.  It  may  work  up  a  riper  man, 
and  make  him  a  better  Christian,  but,  after  all,  we  don't 
like  to  be  in  the  mortification  ranks  all  the  time. 

Now,  if  we  are  going  to  have  a  system  of  transfers,  let 
us  have  it ;  and  when  my  station  up  in  Palmer  wants  some 
star  from  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  that  they  have  heard 


DISCUSSION   OF  DB.    BABBOWS'    ESSAY.  121 

of,  then  let  thcin  have  him  ;  and  if  ho  have  the  broad  spirit 
of  Christ  he  will  come.  1  don't  know  about  these  men 
that  go  from  Dan  to  Beersheba,  —  that  go  about  looking 
for  the  "  golden  fleece  ;  "  the  Lord  will  look  out  for  them, 
these  men,  by  and  by.  Nor  do  I  know  about  the  good 
man  that  so  amusingly  hugs  the  "hub,"  and  has  a  pecu- 
liar gravitation  towards  the  "centre  of  things,"  so  that  if 
the  good  Bishop  should  take  him  up  and  put  him  out  in 
the  country,  he  would  say,  "I  shan't  have  to  stay  only  one 
year."  He  will  take  a  "  supernumerary  relation,"  and 
perhaps  he  will  turn  up  in  some  other  "hub."  [Great 
merriment.]  Queer  things  have  happened,  sir,  and  queer 
things  may  happen  again.  And  it  is  so  when  some 
preachers  get  broken  down  and  lose  their  health  ;  they 
recover  wonderfully  when  they  get  into  certain  places  and 
certain  pulpits.  Now,  it  is  said  that  "  Bailey,  on  the  floor 
of  the  New  England  Conference,  for  some  fifteen  minutes 
found  fault  with  his  appointments."  'Twan't  so  ;  I  was 
only  finding  fault  for  other  people  ;  and  if  I  was  nettled 
in  the  Conference,  then,  perhaps,  some  of  us  need  to  be 
nettled.  1  believe  in  the  general  idea  of  the  essay ;  I 
think  we  need  a  general  system  of  transfers  ;  but  let  us 
have  fair  play.     [Applause.] 

We  need  ministers  ;  and  where  do  you  get  most  of  your 
ministers  from?  Out  of  the  "hub?"  No,  sir  ;  you  get 
them  from  the  rural  districts  ;  and  why  should  we  not  send 
there  some  of  our  best  preachers  ?  I  have  known  of  men 
who  have  been  in  the  "hub"  here,  and  have  been  turn- 
ing over  and  over  in  a  very  short  circumference,  that 
should  be  out  at  the  end  of  the  spokes. 

Why,  in  the  course  we  are  pursuing,  Mr.  President,  I 
don't  wonder  that  wre  are  beginning,  in  the  rural  districts, 
to  feel  that  there  is  a  good  deal  of  humbug,  after  all,  in 
this  talk  about  the  "glorious  itinerancy."  Now,  let  us 
break  this  thing  all  up.  And  if  the  good  Bishop  will  put 
us  into  a  bag  and  shake  us  all  up  (and  I  will  not  object  to 

9 


122  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

a  good  shaking,  but  we  do  want  fair  play),  and  open  the 
bag  and  let  us  all  out,  I  shall  not  care  where  I  fall.  Xow, 
I  believe  that  a  great  part  of  the  difficulty  of  ministerial 
support  lies  in  the  ministry.  Who  has  builded  up  the 
Church,  made  the  General  and  Annual  Conferences,  but 
the  ministers?  Brethren  of  the  ministry,  let  us  be  fair 
with  one  another ;  let  us  be  willing  to  take  our  chances, 
and  work  where  we  ought ;  and  break  up  all  this  caste 
among  us,  and  have  more  social,  Christian  equality,  and 
where  God  in  his  providence  would  appoint  us,  there  let 
us  be  ready  and  willing  to  go. 

Bev.J.  W.  Willet,  of  the  Providence  Conference: — There 
is  a  thought  in  my  mind  that  has  sought  expression  in  con- 
nection with  almost  every  topic  introduced  here  yesterday 
or  to-day,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  this  is  the  most  appro- 
priate place  to  present  it.  And  that  thought  is,  that  the 
ultimate  end  of  our  doings  in  this  world  should  be  the 
glory  of  our  God  ;  and  our  lives  here  are  to  be  spent  in 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  our  fellow-men.  It  is  our 
business,  every  one  of  us,  to  live  more  for  others  than  for 
ourselves,  and  only  to  seek  our  own  advantage  as,  in  so 
doing,  we  may  get  greater  blessings  to  those  with  whom 
we  come  in  contact.  If  we  will  take  this  broad,  general 
principle,  we  shall  find  a  cure  for  many  of  our  troubles, 
and  we  shall  find  the  spirit  of  the  essay  supported  by  the 
faithful  application  of  this  principle.  I  think  our  troubles 
come  from  the  want  of  the  benevolent  spirit.  We  are 
getting  for  too  selfish.  And  we  are  getting  to  be  selfish 
to  an  extent  in  which  we  are  liable  to  be  deceived  ;  even 
to  think  that  our  hearts,  desires,  and  interests  are  for  the 
interests  of  others  ;  but  if  we  dig  down  to  the  foundations, 
we  shall  find  that  selfishness  is  at  the  bottom.  I  think  our 
Methodist  economy  is  a  capital  one  for  every  man  and 
every  woman  in  the  world  who  loves  God  with  all  the 
heart,  and  their  neighbor  as  themselves.  But  just  as  soon 
as  you  abate  anything  from  this,  you  will  find  that  its 


DISCUSSION   OF   DR.    BABBOW8     ESSAY.  123 

nature  is  not  adapted  to  the  individuals.  The  Methodist 
economy  was  wrought  out  at  a  white  heat ;  and  when 
men  lose  their  piety,  their  love  for  God  and  Bonis,  and 
their  spirit  of  self-sacrifice,  the  machinery,  the  economy  of 
Methodism  is  burdensome;  but,  when  filled  with  that 
spirit,  the  yoke  is  easy  and  the  burden  light.  Now  we 
look  at  circumstances.  Here  is  a  complaint  about  a  few 
being  in  the  larger  churches, —  the  great  men  being  in  those 
places.  What  is  the  cure  for  this  ?  The  man  who  is  in 
one  of  the  churches  here  should  remember  that  human 
power  is  doing  God's  work  everywhere,  and  feel  that  the 
interests  of  the  Church  to  which  he  belongs  is  just  as 
much  promoted  in  the  station  yonder  as  here ;  and  if  our 
devotion  be  to  God  and  souls,  as  it  should  be,  we  should 
see  to  it  that  we  do  not  get  the  idea  that  "  I  must  get  my 
man,  and  have  him  in  my  place,  no  matter  what  comes." 
I  think  I  may  safely  challenge  any  man  to  instance  a  case 
of  friction  in  the  Methodist  economy  in  which  you  will  not 
find  selfishness  at  the  bottom.  Let  there  be  the  spirit  of 
sacrificing,  and  then  there  will  be  no  danger.  Let  the 
brethren  feel  perfectly  willing  that  every  man  be  disposed 
of  by  the  appointing  power,  as  they  all  shall  deem  best  for 
the  interests  of  the  Church. 

Do  we  not  need  more  of  the  spirit  of  Christ  in  our  souls, 
and  more  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  humanity?  It  seems 
to  me  that  we  find  all  our  troubles  coming  out  of  this 
want.  Wo  have  just  this  one  trouble  :  we  want  more  con- 
secration to  God  and  his  service  ;  and  we  have  not  conse- 
crated ourselves  to  God's  service  just  when  we  contribute 
our  influence  in  the  limited  circle  where  we  live.  And  I 
would  ask  that  we  ponder  upon  this  one  thing.  As  one 
evil  after  another  has  been  presented,  as  one  change  after 
another  suggested,  I  have  been  thinking  of  these  things. 
What  is  the  matter  with  our  economy  ?  We  as  Methodists 
have  the  grandest  machinery  under  the  heavens  ;  and  it 
will  be  long  before  anything  shall  be  found  to  compare 


124  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

with  it.  Let  us,  then,  in  order  to  right  these  things,  come 
together  with  all  our  hearts  ;  let  us  come  to  God  and  pray ; 
and,  oh !  for  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  fire  to 
come  clown  from  heaven,  and  burn  up  all  our  selfishness, 
our  prejudices,  and  extend  our  holy  religion ! 

The  further  consideration  of  the  subject  was  postponed, 
by  vote,  till  to-morrow  morning,  and  the  Convention  ad- 
journed by  singing  the  doxology  and  the  pronouncing  of 
the  benediction  by  Rev.  Dr.  Porter,  of  New  York. 


EVENING. 


The  Convention  was  called  to  order  by  the  President, 
at  7£  o'clock.     The  hymn,  commencing 

"  I  love  thy  kingdom,  Lord," 

was  sung,  and  prayer  offered  by  Rev.  A.  F.  Baile}T,  of  the 
New  England  Conference. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Tiuombly,  of  the  New  England  Conference, 
then  read  an  essay  on  the  following  topic  :  How  can  the 
social  power  of  the  Church  be  more  fully  developed,  and, 
by  organization  or  otherwise,  so  directed  as  better  to  sub- 
serve the  interests  of  our  cause  ? 

It  will  doubtless  be  received  as  an  axiom,  that,  in  working 
out  the  salvation  of  the  world,  the  ultimate  reliance  of  the 
Church  must  be  upon  the  power  of  God.  All  power  is  indeed 
of  him  ;  but  the  manifestation  and  efficiency  of  that  power,  in 
promoting  the  welfare  of  man,  depend  very  largely  upon  the 
intervention  of  second  causes. 

His  power  develops  the  bud  into  a  rose,  clothes  the  field 
with  verdure  and  fruits,  drives  the  varied  combinations  of 
mechanism,  fans  the  white  wings  of  commerce,  and  sends  the 
lightning  on  errands  across  the  continent ;  but  the  skill  of  man 
directs  and  measures  the  exercise  of  that  power.     So  it  is  the 


REV.    MR.    TWOMBLY'S    ESSAY.  125 

power  of  God  which  brings  the  soul  up  from  the  depths  of 
moral  degradation,  and  plants  within  it  the  germs  of  eternal 
life  ;  nevertheless  the  effectiveness  of  that  power  is  largely 
controlled  by  human  effort. 

When  we  consider  the  matchless  scheme  of  redemption,  re- 
plete with  helps  for  fallen  man,  the  inquiry  springs  up,  Why 
has  not  the  Church  ere  this  planted  her  standard  on  every 
mountain-top,  and  sung  her  paeans  in  every  hamlet,  and  along 
the  streets  of  every  populous  town  in  the  world  ?  It  is  not 
because  of  any  lack  in  the  provisions  of  mercy,  nor  merely  be- 
cause the  natural  heart  is  rebellious  ;  the  grand  reason  is  found 
in  the  failure  of  the  Church  to  meet  those  conditions  necessary  to 
make  the  power  of  God  a  controlliiKj  force  over  the  hearts  and  lives 
of  men. 

We  must,  therefore,  seek  to  learn  what  facilitates  or  impedes 
the  spread  of  religion.  What  secondary  cause  now  retards  its 
progress,  or  what  one  can  be  employed  to  send  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  like  the  light  of  da}-,  flashing  around  the  world?  As 
the  husbandman  breaks  up  and  mellows  the  soil,  and  thus 
makes  it  possible  for  God  to  beautify  the  earth  with  flowers  and 
fruits,  so  Christian  laborers  must  prepare  the  hearts  of  men, 
that  he  may  reveal  his  loveliness  and  glory  in  human  society. 

Among  the  many  means  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  e?id,  a 
rightly-developed  social  life  is  second  only  to  vital  personal  piety. 
It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  social  instincts  are  among  the 
strongest  and  most  controlling  of  the  heart.  They  lead  to  the 
formation  of  families ;  families  grow  into  tribes,  and  tribes 
into  nations.  Every  true  soul  yearns  for  genial  companion- 
ship, and  only  perverted  natures  seek  the  cell  of  the  hermit. 
In  a  community  of  general  intelligence  and  commercial  ac- 
tivity, social  position  is  one  of  the  highest  objects  of  pursuit. 
For  its  attainment,  men  sacrifice  time,  toil,  treasure,  and,  fre- 
quently, conscience.  What  will  people  think  of  me?  How 
common  these  words,  and  how  might}',  daily  shaping  the  des- 
tinies of  immortal  beings  !  The  social  principle  fashions  the 
wardrobe,  regulates  the  toilet,  prescribes  the  household 
furniture,  and  in  most  cases  elects  the  church  for  the  family  to 
attend,  and  the  pew  for  them  to  occupy.     When  young  men 


126  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

move  to  a  new  town  or  city,  they  do  not  stop  to  review  the 
Wesle}Tan  Catechism  nor  the  Sa}Tbrook  Platform  in  order  to 
decide  what  church  they  shall  attend.  Their  position  is  fixed 
rather  by  their  tastes  than  b}T  their  theology.  They  often 
pass  by  the  church  of  their  fathers  to  one  where  their  tastes 
are  more  fully  gratified.  This  fact  is  patent  to  every  man  of 
ordinary  observation. 

The  growing  harmony  of  evangelical  denominations  has 
thrown  theological  platforms  quite  into  the  background.  Once 
men  flocked  around  the  Methodist  banner  out  of  spite  to  the 
Calvinists,  others  because  the}' delighted  in  a  free — that  is, 
financially-cheap  —  gospel,  others  because  they  desired  a  more 
active  religion  than  was  preached  b}'  the  old  divines.  But  the 
world  has  moved.  The  watchmen  are  beginning  to  see  eye  to 
e}*e,  evangelical  pulpits  utter  very  largely  the  same  doctrines, 
the  cost  of  public  worship  is  everywhere  essentially  the 
same,  and  in  some  church  any  man  may  find  Christ  to  the  joy 
and  fullness  of  his  heart,  if  he  will. 

In  fact  the  public  is  well  nigh  disgusted  with  pulpit  po- 
lemics. The  general  inquiry  is,  What  church  shows  the  most 
personal  attention  to  its  members,  and  the  most  brotherly 
Christianity?  Where  can  I  find  the  church  that  will  best  suit 
my  tastes,  and  give  me  the  highest  social  position?  These 
silent  questions  being  positively  answered,  thitherward  the  in" 
quirer  wends  his  way. 

Shall  the  Church,  as  a  consequence  of  this  tendency,  lightly 
regard  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  or  hold  her  creed  with  a 
nerveless  grasp?  By  no  means.  But  while  she  watches  the 
truth  with  vestal  fidelit}^  let  her  be  careful,  lest,  through  the 
lack  of  attention  to  the  amenities  of  life,  she  paratyze  the 
power  of  the  truth  she  holds. 

Every  church  has  a  character,  and,  therefore,  a  social  power, 
and  that  power  is  perpetually  active,  building  and  beautifying 
the  living  temple,  or  distorting  its  sj'mmetry,  and  marring  its 
ornamentation. 

However  numerous  and  diversified  the  families  composing  a 
church,  it  has,  as  a  result  of  leading  individual  forces  within 
its  pale,  a  life  of  its  own ;  and  this  life,  by  the  laws  of  nature, 


BEV.    MR.    TWOMBLY'S    ESSAY.  127 

is  a  potent,  moulding  force.  If  its  tendency  is  chastening, 
elevating,  the  members  art' elevated,  refined,  perfected  in  charac- 
ter; if  it  is  uncultivated,  low,  the  people  are  debased.  We 
may  as  well  attempt  to  reverse  the  laws  of  heat  and  cold  as  to 
escape  these  results.  The  youth,  likewise,  of  every  church  re- 
ceive its  peculiar  moulding.  Though  unaware  of  the  forces 
giving  them  shape,  they  are  gradually  transformed  from  grace 
to  grace,  and  from  grace  to  glory  ;  or  they  are  led  down 
through  successive  perversions  of  taste,  affection,  and  faith,  till 
thety  doubt  the  reality  of  personal  piety,  and  drop  into  the 
swelling  ranks  of  the  neglecters  of  God  and  religion.  This 
result  is  inevitable. 

The  social  life  of  every  church  is  diffusive,  ever  permeating 
the  congregation  and  the  community  in  which  it  is  located. 
►Whatever  its  character  it  sends  out  an  influence  like  itself,  and 
all  who  come  within  the  radius  of  its  power  are  transformed 
into  its  own  likeness.  If  that  life  be  right,  the  community  is 
interested  aiij.1  brought  under  the  influence  of  the  truth,  and 
thus  the  social  life  of  the  church  becomes  an  efficient  auxiliary 
to  the  word  and  the  spirit  of  God. 

"We  could  point  to  churches  of  different  evangelical  denom- 
inations which,  though  laboring  among  and  for  the  poor  and 
the  ignoble,  constantly  recruit  from  the  ranks  of  the  intelligent 
and  socially  influential ;  and  it  would  be  more  than  possible  to 
find  some  whose  doors  the  more  respectable  classes  of  people 
rarely  enter;  and  what  is  the  cause?  We  find  it  not  in  the 
heretical  doctrines  and  waning  piety  of  those  churches,  nor  in 
the  excessive  fervor  of  their  piety.  The  reason  lies  in  the  low 
cast  of  their  social  life.  If  at  any  time  they  are  favored  with 
a  revival,  the  intelligent  among  the  converts  are  likely  to  seek 
a  religious  home  that  is  more  socially  congenial. 

The  importance  of  this  subject  is  made  doubly  interesting  to 
us  by  a  consideration  which  demands  our  special  thought. 
Though  in  this  country  Methodism  was  first  promulgated 
among  the  common  people,  many  of  whom  lightly  esteemed 
human  refinements,  our  fathers  and  elder  brethren  had  such  an 
appreciation  of  high  intelligence,  that  the}r  have  bestudded  the 
continent  with  institutions  of  learning ;  and  there   is   not,  at 


128  METHODIST   CENTENAEY   CONTENTION. 

this  time,  a  people  in  Christendom  that  is  doing  so  much,  in 
its  denominational  capacity,  for  the  spread  of  learning,  and  es- 
pecially to  promote  the  fine  arts,  as  the  Methodist  Church. 
Our  schools,  academies,  and  colleges,  dotting  the  republic  from 
the  distant  East  to  the  "  golden  gates  of  the  West,"  are  an- 
nually sending  forth,  among  the  millions  of  our  Israel,  youth 
of  sound  learning  and  refined  culture,  and  though  they  are 
mam',  they  are  few,  compared  with  the  mass  of  our  people,  yet 
enough  to  characterize  the  whole  body,  and,  coming  as  they  do 
from  scenes  of  refinement,  and  from  the  pursuits  of  taste,  there, 
is  positive  need  of  attention  to  social  life  in  the  churches,  that 
the}'  may  find  strong  attractions  in  the  home  of  their  fathers. 
Is  it  said,  if  the}-  do  not  wish  to  remain,  let  them  go?  I  say, 
never!  The  educated  son- or  daughter  of  a  Methodist  parent 
may  be  worth  to  the  world  half  a  score  of  debased  and  ignorant 
heathen  ;  }Tet,  to  save  the  latter,  we  compass  the  globe,  and 
spend  a  quarter  of  a  million  of  money.  Let  us  save  what  ice 
have,  and  bring  to  our  sacred  standard  as  man v  more  as  God 
shall  give  us  power  to  reach. 

There  is  one  fact  of  broad  and  vital  interest,  a  fact  which 
gives  anxiet}-  to  all  denominations  in  the  country,  —  certainly 
to  all  of  an  evangelical  character.  I  refer  to  the  loss  of  youth 
who  are  so  frequently  passing  away  from  the  direct  influences 
of  religion  to  join  the  growing  column  of  non-church-goers, 
which  fills  the  background  in  the  dark  picture  of  American  so- 
ciety. We  rejoice,  as  well  we  might,  when  one  lost  sheep  is 
brought  into  the  fold,  but  think  too  little  of  the  twain  which 
pass  out  on  the  other  side.  Count  up  the  children  of  any 
evangelical  church,  and  you  will  find  that  a  large  proportion  of 
them  have  deserted  the  paths  of  piety,  and  severed  their  visi- 
ble connection  with  religion. 

I  have  studied  this  matter  for  a  long  time,  and  somewhat 
closely,  and  I  think  I  find  the  main  cause  of  this  defection  in 
the  want  of  attractive  social  life  in  the  Church. 

While,  as  we  have  already  intimated,  the  Church  must  place 
her  ultimate  reliance,  for  the  conversion  of  men,  upon  the 
power  of  God,  while  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  holy 
fire  bums  upon  her  altars,  and  the  people  possess  a  deep  con- 


BBV,    MR.    TWOMBLY'S   ESSAY.  120 

BCiOUSDess  of  the  divine  presence,  we  are  compelled  to  admit 
that  her  social  status  regulates,  to  a  great  extent,  the  practical 
efficiency  both  of  the  truth  and  of  the  spirit  of  the  Lord. 

How,  then,  shall  we  develop  and  direct  the  social  power  of 
the  Church  so  as  better  to  promote  the  interests  of  religion? 

In  the  first  place,  let  this  subject  be  properly  treated  in  the 
pulpit.  Why  should  not  a  theme  of  such  moment  be  allowed  a 
place  in  a  sermon?  The  end  of  preaching  is  the  salvation  of 
men,  and  whatever  directly  bears  on  that  end  demands  the  con- 
sideration of  the  preacher.  Casting  his- eye  over  his  customary 
field  of  observation,  he  will  find  enough  salient  points,  in  the 
life  he  daily  meets,  to  illustrate  the  principles  he  would  incul- 
cate ;  and  should  principles  be  forgotten,  the  home-like  charac- 
ter of  the  illustrations  will  give  them  a  lodgment  in  the  most 
treacherous  memories. 

The  literature  current  in  a  church  is  another  means  of  devel- 
oping its  social  life.  ,  Much  of  the  popular  reading  of  the  times 
poisons  the  fountain  of  affection,  and  generates  sordid  selfish- 
ness and  misanthropy.  But  there  is  a  literature  which  purifies 
the  heart,  fills  its  fountains  with  generous  s}mipathy,  and  re- 
fines conversation,  by  presenting  elevated  topics  of  thought 
and  chaste  figures  of  speech,  and  thus  gives  grace  and  elegance 
to  social  life.  This  can  be  found  abundantly  in  the  produc- 
tions of  our  own  press ;  yet,  as  the  world  is  our  parish,  the 
chaste  literature  of  the  world  is  ours,  and  we  should  select 
from  all  sources  that  which  is  most  replete  with  knowledge, 
purity,  and  the  inspiration  of  thought.  Books  once  read  never 
leave  us.  We  may  burn  the  paper,  but  their  thoughts  enter 
into  our  very  life,  clothing  it  with  beauty  or  ugliness,  and  live 
on  with  us  through  the  ages. 

From  the  days  that  Jubal  played  his  simple  harp  to  the  time 
when  your  delighted  ears  caught  the  full  diapason  from  the 
grand  organ,  — now  the  pride  of  New  England,  —  music  was 
the  charm  of  social  life,  and  an  inspiration  to  public  worship. 
Melody,  flowing  from  the  lips  of  Orpheus,  moved  stones  and 
trees  ;•  and  the  tide  of  harmony  flowing  from  the  devout  assem- 
bly, now  moving  softly  onward,  now  rising  into  rapture  or 
swelling  into  bold  anthem-strains,  has  electrified  the  wor- 
shipping throng,  and  melted  hearts  of  adamant.. 


130  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

The  comparative  merits  of  choir  and  congregational  singing 
it  is  not  our  province  to  discuss.  Opera  music  is  often  a  bur" 
lesque  on  religious  worship,  and  singing  b}T  the  people  no  less 
often  an  imposition  upon  the  musical  sense  of  mankind.  In 
one  church,  a  quartette  trills  out  the  people's  devotion  ;  in 
another,  an  organist  is  hung  up  at  one  end,  and  a  chorister 
posted  at  the  other,  and  between  them  half  a  hundred  of  un- 
tutored singers  run  riot  through  the  realm  of  music  ;  in  a  third, 
covetousness  rules  the  hour,  and,  in  the  absence  of  an  organ 
or  trained  leader,  every  man  sings  in  time  and  tune  to  suit, 
himself,  and  the  harmoiry  fairly  rivals  the  opening  performance 
of  a  hail  storm. 

Is  it  not  a  wonder  the  millennium  does  not  come,  and  that 
gentlemen  of  refinement  do  not  sit  entranced  in  the  sanctuary  ? 
What  the  churches  need  is  genuine  music,  performed  b}r  all 
who  are  competent  to  perform  it  well,  whether  few  or  many. 
It  is  impossible  to  blink  out  of  sight  the  fact,  that  music  has 
much  to  do  with  the  social  and  religious  life  of  a  church,  and 
with  its  influence  in  society.  The  attendance  or  non- 
attendance  of  people  upon  public  worship  is  often  settled  by 
the  character  of  the  music.  If  this  is  attractive,  men  of 
culture  are  won  to  the  house  of  the  Lord ;  if  not,  they  are 
repelled  from  its  presence. 

The  church  that,  in  this  age,  will  foster  friendship  and 
sociabilit3T,  and  command  public  consideration,  must  sedulously 
cultivate  the  muses,  and  transmute  much  of  its  wealth  into 
song. 

Another  force  stronglv  appealing  to  the  oesthetical  and 
moral  nature  of  man  is  architecture.  He  who  kindled  the 
lights  which  gem  the  mighty  heavens,  who  flung  specimens  of 
his  handiwork  through  the  vaulted  sky,  that  the}r  might  be- 
come the  study  of  his  creatures,  has  given  to  man  a  capacity 
to  rise,  by  means  of  things  visible  and  material,  to  things  in- 
visible and  spiritual.  Consistently  with  this  relation  of  the 
material  to  the  resthetical  and  spiritual,  the  tabernacle  and 
ritual  of  God's  chosen  people  were  adapted  to  address  the 
senses,  to  fix  the  eye  and  awaken  the  soul.  The  white-robed 
priests  attending  their  richly-decorated  chief,  the  living  sacri- 


REV. 


131 


fices  consecrated  to  holy  purposes,  the  flaming  altars,  the 
smoke  of  the  incense  wafted  heaven-ward,  the  tabernacle  walls 
plated  with  gold  and  radiant  with  light,  told  them  of  purity, 
and  lifted  their  thoughts  to  the  beautiful  and  the  holy. 

The  Romanists,  who  have  studied  and  fought  for  ages  to 
control  the  Christian  world,  know  well  the  power  of  architec- 
ture, not  only,  nor  mainly,  to  elevate  the  spiritual  conceptions 
of  the  people,  hut  to  unite  them  in  social  sympathy  and  wed 
them  to  the  creed  of  "  the  Church;"  and  their  costly  cathe- 
drals, adorning  the  cities  of  two  hemispheres,  including  the 
Athens  of  America,  and  yonder  sacred  heights,  where  Liberty 
throttled  the  British  Lion,  proclaim  their  purpose  to  rule  the 
popular  heart.  And  when  their  idiom  and  manners  shall  have 
become  thoroughly  Americanized,  they  will  wield  a  power  in 
this  Republic  that  may  shake  its  very  foundations. 

Ornate  and  attractive  houses  of  worship  refine  and  inspirit  a 
people,  and  give  them  an  influence  in  the  community,  enabling 
them  more  effectually  to  mould  the  masses  and  lead  them  to 
Christ.  Rarely  has  one  of  our  own  societies  passed  from  an 
unattractive,  ill-furnished  house  of  worship  to  one  whose  style 
met  the  demands  of  cultivated  taste,  without  drawing  to  its 
pale  families  of  intelligence  and  high  worth,  which  before  were 
not  within  its  reach.  Latterly  many  of  our  churches  have  been 
adorned  with  the  graces  of  architecture,  and  we  can  now  point 
to  splendid  monuments  of  the  taste  and  liberality  of  our  people. 
But  the  work  of  reform  is  far  from  being  completed.  Our 
social  power  is  relatively  declining,  and  our  religious  interests 
are  suffering  in  not  a  few  places,  because  the  claims  of  popular 
taste  are  ignored  in  the  erection  and  furnishing  of  churches. 

History  demonstrates  the  influence  of  architecture  over  the 
hearts  and  faith  of  men.  The  splendid  temples  of  Greece  long 
vitalized  the  mythology  of  her  people  ;  and,  for  ages,  the  gor- 
geous pagodas  of  India  have  given  Strength  to  debasing  super- 
stitions. While,  then,  in  the  idolatrous  Orient,  architecture  is 
binding  the  people  with  wreaths  of  beaut}',  to  the  errors  of 
Boodh,  or  the  crescent  of  Islam  ;  it  may  be  employed,  in  Chris- 
tian America,  to  bind  them,  by  the  same  force,  to  the  truths  of 
the  Bible  and  the  cross  of  Jesus.     To  neolect  this  element  of 


132  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

religious  and  social  power,  is  palpable  recreancy  to  the  behests 
of  duty. 

One  of  the  most  direct  and  positive  means  of  reaching  the 
end  which  we  seek  is  social  visitation.  The  meeting  of  fami- 
lies from  house  to  house,  to  interchange  friendly  greetings,  and 
pass  an  hour  together  in  cheerful  conversation  and  singing  fche 
songs  of  Zion,  cannot  fail  of  the  happiest  results.  Such  visits, 
if  conducted  on  the  basis  of  equalit}r,  knit  the  hearts  of  the 
people  to  each  other,  and  to  the  Church ;  but  if  the  entertain- 
ment is  given  in  the  patronizing  and  condescending  style 
which  sometimes  marks  the  intercourse  of  the  wealthy  with 
humbler  members  of  the  parish,  they  produce  estrangement 
and  animosity  rather  than  brotherly  love.  Forgetting,  at  least 
for  the  time,  the  inequalities  in  their  social  position,  let  the 
wealthier  members  of  every  church  open  their  doors,  spread 
their  tables,  and  invite  the  members  of  the  church  and  congre- 
gation, —  the  poor  with  the  affluent,  —  to  partake  of  their  hos- 
pitality, and  pass  an  evening  in  their  pleasant  homes.  Let 
there  be  no  gross  amusements,  no  frivolous  sports,  but  genial, 
Christian  life,  conversation,  song,  and  prayer.  In  many  a 
church  the  social  life  is  contracted  to  the  narrow  circle  of 
gentlemen  and  ladies  who  assume  to  manage  its  affairs. 

Of  the  various  organizations  and  festive  scenes  common 
among  us  we  need  say  but  a  word :  preserve  them  from  the 
taint  of  popular  amusements,  and  especially  dancing  and  gam- 
bling ;  infuse  into  them  a  wholesome  moral  influence,  and  then 
let  them  flourish.  Their  benefit  is  apparent  from  a  single  con- 
sideration ;  viz. :  the  strength  of  a  church  depends  mainly 
upon  the  interest  cherished  for  it  by  the  individual  members. 
No  society  is  weak  in  which  every  hand  labors,  and  every 
heart  believes  and  loves  ;  and  that  church  which  is  largest  and 
wealthiest,  and  yet  fails  to  enlist  the  personal  activities  of  its 
members,  has  in  it  the  elements  of  decay.  By  a  law  of  the 
human  soul,  eveiy  person  loves  that  for  which  he  labors  ;  and, 
as  the  various  festive  scenes,  which  recur  with  the  changing 
seasons,  give  to  each  individual  something  to  do  for  the  church, 
I  commend  them,  even  in  the  absence  of  financial  necessities. 
It  is  our  misfortune  that  we  do  not  find  employ  for  but  few  of 


REV,    MB.    TWOMBLT'S    ESSAY,  133 

our  members.     In  the  early  history  of  our  Church,  there  was  a 
pressing  demand  for  laborers,  and  men  were  not  unfrequently4 
called  to  the  duties  of  steward,  class-leader,  or  extorter,  while 

in  a  state  of  probation.  It  is  not  so  now.  In  many  of  our 
societies,  the  older  brethren  hold  the  posts  of  honor,  and  young 
men  of  thirty  or  thirty-live,  though  having  many  years  of 
religious  experience,  are  not  supposed  to  be  Sufficiently  mature 
to  be  vested  with  official  authority.  I  would  not  ignore  the 
fathers  ;  I  venerate  the  tried  and  faithful  men,  who  cherished 
and  guided  the  destinies  of  our  cause  in  its  infancy  and  weak- 
ness,—  may  heaven's  blessings  crown  their  declining  years, 
and  the  grateful  hands  of  the  rising  generation  wreath  their 
brows  with  laurel ;  but  let  those  fathers,  and  the  strong  men, 
who  exercise  a  controlling  influence,  widen  the  sphere  of  effort, 
multiply  useful  labors,  and  stimulate  the  younger  brethren  to 
engage  in  the  activities  of  the  Church.  This  will  be  found  one 
effective  means  of  retaining  and  blessing  the  rising  generation. 
Organizations  of  the  youth  are  beginning  to  take  their  place 
among  us,  and  among  other  denominations,  which  deserve 
specification.  I  refer  to  the  literary  organizations  which  are 
springing  up  in  various  places  among  the  young  people.  The 
first  Methodist  church,  of  Boston,  owes  its  continued  existence 
and  prosperity  mainly  to  the  effective  organization  of  its 
youth.  And  there  are,  in  this  city,  churches  of  other  de- 
nominations which  are  continually  drawing  to  themselves  per- 
sons of  intelligence,  wealth,  and  influence,  through  the  activity 
of  their  associated  young  men.  Let  us  encourage  the  forma- 
tion of  societies  among  our  j'oung  people,  in  which,  ix  the 
vestries,  or  elsewhere,  the}T  shall  have  frequent  meetings,  and 
engage  in  exercises  of  an  elevated,  intellectual,  and  moral  char- 
acter. They  can  have  choice  reading,  original  essays,  and  the 
like;  and  thus,  while  cultivating  and  saying  themselves,  they 
may  win  others  from  the  waywardness  of  the  world,  and  turn 
them  to  Christ.  Such  societies,  properly  conducted,  in  our 
7000  churches,  would  be  of  immense  value  to  our  cause,  and 
especially  in  the  cities  and  populous  centres  ;  and  if  connected 
together,  as  they  easih*  could  be,  by  correspondence  or  other 
means,  would  bring  into  the  field  of  moral  effort  half  a  million 
of  intelligent  youth,  who  now  have  but  little  associated  life. 


134  METHODIST   CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

The  youth  are  the  jewels  of  the  Church ;  let  them  be  pre- 
'  served  whatever  the  hazard.  Satan,  the  grand  arch-foe,  knows 
well  the  potency  of  the  social  principle  as  a  controlling  force  ; 
and  nightly  his  saloons  display  their  glittering  ornaments  and 
sparkling  cups,  the  air  resounds  with  the  strains  of  theatrical 
music,  with  the  echoes  of  the  footsteps  of  the  dancers,  or  the 
sounds  of  the  implements  of  gambling ;  and  his  purveyors 
stand  at  every  street-corner,  saying  to  the  unwary,  "  Come  in 
hither  ;  "  and  together  they  walk  into  the  burning  pit. 

The  full  and  ardent  souls  of  the  young  demand  society,  and 
the  wicked  are  more  prompt  than  the  virtuous  in  meeting  this 
demand.  Where  is  the  church  that  provides"  a  social  resort  for 
the  young?  Where  is  there  one  that  nightly,  weekly,  or  even 
monthly ,  opens  for  them  a  vestiy,  or  suitable  hall,  in  which 
they  may  spend  a  social  hour  ?  Where  is  the  Christian  man- 
sion, with  its  open  doors  and  flaming  chandeliers,  and  winning 
watcher  by  the  wayside,  to  say  to  the  young  of  the  city,  or 
even  of  the  parish,  Come  in  hither,  and,  in  the  circle  of  the 
virtuous  and  the  good,  pass  a  pleasant  hour  ? 

If  we  would  save  the  world,  we  must  address  the  ruling 
forces  which  God  has  placed  in  the  human  soul ;  and  one  of 
the  strongest  of  these  is  the  social  principle. 

It  would  be  a  pleasure  to  pause  here  and  delineate  the  zeal- 
ous activities  of  Methodism,  in  behalf  of  the  3roung,  and  the 
successes  which  have  crowned  her  endeavors,  and  which  have 
conspired  to  place  her  in  the  van  of  the  grand  column  of  Chris- 
tian laborers ;  but  my  task,  for  the  moment,  was  rather  to 
suggest  means  by  which  she  may  intensify  her  social  power, 
and  multiply  her  trophies  for  Emanuel. 

In  this  cursory  essay,  I  have  written  no  line  in  fear  of  re- 
pulses to  Christian  truth,  nor  in  skeptic  doubt  of  the  good  old 
ship  in  which  we  sail.  Built  of  live  oak,  it  has  grown  every 
day,  in  its  voyage  of  a  century.  All  its  beams,  ribs,  planks, 
masts,  and  bolts,  and  the  copper  upon  its  keel,  are  sound  as 
when  it  first  put  to  sea. 

But,  brethren  of  the  Convention,  the  winds  have  changed  on 
the  sea  on  which  we  sail,  and  our  part,  as  good  mariners,  is, 
to  adjust  the  spars,  and  set  the  sails,  so  that,  catching  and 


BISHOP    SIMrSON'S    ADDRESS.  135 

using  the  breezes  of  heaven,  we  may  safely,  triumphantly  ride 
into  the  upper  harbor. 

The   Business  Committee  announced  for  the  Financial 

Committee  the  need  of  taking  a  collection  to  defray  tlio 
expenses  of  the  Convention,  at  this  time,  and  the  collection 
was  ordered  ;  after  which,  on  motion,  the  reading  of  Rev. 
A.  Prince's  Essay  was  deferred  till  to-morrow  morning. 
After  singing  the  hymn, 

"  Blow  ye  the  trumpet,  blow,"  etc., 

Rev.  Bishop  Simpson  addressed  the  very  large  audience 
that  had  gathered,  as  follows  :  — 

Mr.  President  :  —  It  gives  me  unfeigned  pleasure  to  meet, 
on  this  centenary  year,  and  in  this  beautiful  temple,  such  a 
vast  assemblage  of  the  members  and  friends  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  throughout  New  England.  I  am  here  be- 
cause, by  the  Board  of  Management,  I  was  kindly  invited  to 
come.  I  am  here  because,  having  been  in  the  region  at  three 
Conferences  during  the  spring,  I  was  pleased  to  learn  that 
arrangements  for  this  Convention  were  being  made  ;  and  I  de- 
sired to  come  that  I  might  take  by  the  hand  and  look  in  the 
eye  the  true  friends  of  Methodism  who  had  borne  the  burdens, 
in  the  heat  of  the  day  ;  and  to  greet  the  young  men,  who  are 
preparing  for  earnest  labor  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Master. 

The  topic  (the  social  interests  of  the  Church)  to  which  at- 
tention has  just  been  called,  is  one  of  deep  interest,  and  to 
it  my  remarks  will  chiefly  be  directed,  though  possibly  I  may 
wander  somewhat  from  the  precise  limits  of  the  essay  ;  and 
yet  I  do  not  purpose  to  detain  you  very  long,  because  others 
are  here  whom  I  hope  to  hear  speak,  and  because  my  voice, 
affected  by  a  recent  cold,  will  not  permit  m}-  speaking  very 
many  minutes. 

As  we  survey  Methodism  in  the  past,  we  perceive  one  great 
fact:  in  its  growth  it  has  excelled  all  Christian  denominations 
in  the  land.  It  is  not  so  merely  in  New  England,  where  it 
was  of  somewhat  late  introduction,  but  it  is  so  throughout 
the  whole  of  the  United  States. 


136  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

A  century  ago  six  lowly  individuals  formed  a  little  class, 
and  assembled  for  worship  in  a  sail-loft  in  New  York.  Two 
years  later  in  a  similar  place  a  similar  number  assembled  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia.  Twent}T  years  passed  away  with 
comparatively  a  very  slight,  and  }ret  a  constant,  increase.  If, 
then,  the  curtain  is  supposed  to  fall  a  century  ago,  we  see  as 
it  falls  a  small  Methodist  class,  but  beside  it  stand  large  and 
strong  Episcopal  and  Presbyterian  churches  in  the  cities  of 
New  York  and  Philadelphia  ;  strong  Congregational  Churches 
in  Boston,  and  in  other  places  of  New  England  ;  and  in  the 
Middle  States  large  congregations  of  Lutherans  and  Baptists. 
When  the  curtain  rises  again  at  the  end  of  the  century  what 
do  we  behold  ?  Other  denominations  have  done  a  great  work, 
a  glorious  work.  Other  churches  rise  in  number,  and  in  mag- 
nificence, to  do  honor  to  their  zeal  and  enterprise.  Their 
colleges,  academies,  and  seminaries,  are  opened  to  thousands 
of  students.  Their  religious  press  is  circulating  its  vast  issues 
over  the  land,  and  I  rejoice,  yea,  I  will  rejoice,  in  the  success 
of  every  Christian  denomination  throughout  our  land.  [Ap- 
plause.] God  make  them  a  thousand  fold  so  many  as  they 
are.  [Applause.]  But  whilst  I  rejoice  at  the  success  of  all 
these  denominations,  I  turn  to  Methodism,  and  ask,  "  Where 
is  its  little  class  which  was  covered  when  the  veil  fell  a  century 
ago  ?  "  And  as  I  look  for  it  I  behold  in  its  place  almost  a 
million  of  communicants ;  and  in  the  branches  which,  from 
time  to  time,  have  left  it,  about  two  thirds  of  another  million. 

I  turn  my  eye  to  the  cities,  towns,  and  villages,  and  I  see 
churches  rising  everywhere.  The  census  of  the  United  States, 
both  of  1850  and  of  1860,  shows  that  there  are  more  Methodist 
Churches  in  the  United  States  than  of  any  other  denomination. 
Its  colleges,  academies,  and  seminaries  are  open  for  the  recep- 
tion of  thousands  of  }<  outh  ;  and  when  I  turn  to  the  press,  there 
are  far  more  issues  of  Methodist  papers,  than  of  any  other  de- 
nomination. When  I  see  this  vast  family  extending  from 
Maine  to  California,  and  from  the  Lakes  to  the  Gulf,  I  can 
only  exclaim,  "  What  hath  God  wrought ! "  0,1  have  thought 
to-day,  as  we  met,  some  of  us  on  yonder  beautiful  Common, 
and  gathered  round  that  old  elm  tree,  had  Jesse  Lee  been  en- 


bishop  Simpson's  address.  137 

abled  to  see  Tremont  Temple  in  Boston,  and  to  see  such  an 
audience  gathered  here,  singing  the  old  soul-stirring  hymns, 
as  you  have  sung  them,  he  would  have  shouted  'neath  that  old 
elm  tree  at  the  glory  of  the  coming  century.  [Great  applause.] 
His  eyes  did  not  see  it ;  ours  see   it,  and  we  are  glad. 

\»  hat  has  given  us  this  success?  God's  hand,  God's  power 
have  been  with  us,  and  to  him  be  all  the  glory.  But  when  we 
look,  sir,  for  the  secondary  causes,  we  shall  see  that  our  suc- 
cess has  been  occasioned  by  the  doctrines  which  have  been 
taught,  by  the  usages  which  were  established  by  the  fathers, 
and  by  the  economy  under  which  we  have  labored  ;  all  these 
have  been  causes  and  sources  of  our  success.  I  refer  to  thern 
now,  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  showing  their  bearing  on  the 
social  power.  For  I  am  free  to  assert  that  I  believe  Meth- 
odism owes  much  of  its  success,  under  God,  to  the  culti- 
vation of  this  power.  Formerly,  as  I  think,  we  surpassed 
all  other  denominations  in  our  social  efforts,  but  I  am  by  no 
means  sure  that  others  are  not  rapidly  gaining  upon  us,  if  not 
excelling  us  in  this  direction. 

Our  doctrines  eminently  favor  social  activit}f.  Our  Church 
believes  that  Christ  died  for  all  men  ;  that  there  is  one  great 
Father,  —  one  common  Brotherhood.  This  sweeps  away  all 
distinctions  of  classes  and  ranks  in  the  sight  of  God.  It  pro- 
claims the  same  glorious  truths,  and  offers  the  influences  of  the 
same  blessed  Spirit,  alike  to  the  rich  and  to  the  poor,  to  the 
learned  and  to  the  ignorant,  the  bond  and  the  free.  It  utters 
the  same  call,  proffers  the  same  privileges,  announces  the  same 
glad  tidings  to  men  of  all  races,  climes,  conditions,  and  colors. 
Everywhere,  from  the  frozen  regions  of  the  North  to  the  torrid 
lands  of  the  tropics,  it  exultingly  and  triumphant^  declares 
that  Jesus  Christ  by  the  grace  of  God  tasted  death  for  every 
man.  It  offers  to  every  one  the  conscious  testimony  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  sealing  to  all  the  blessings  of  adoption  into  the 
family  of  God,  the  glorious  privilege  of  being  sons  and  heirs ; 
and  in  the  fulness  of  its  affection  proclaims  that  through  the 
blood  of  the  Saviour  the  vilest  sinner  may  be  cleansed  from  all 
iniquity,  and  fully  as  he  has  borne  the  image  of  the  earthly, 
so  shall  he  bear  the  image  of  the  heavenly. 
10 


138  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

Such  a  system  inspires  the  heart  with  universal  love.  Such 
a  sj'stem  invites  us  to  take  every  man  by  the  hancT  of  affection, 
and  to  help  him  in  struggles  for  a  higher  life.  If  true  to  our 
doctrines,  we  must  love  all  mankind.  Methodism  must  ever 
be,  as  in  the  past,  a  protest  against  bigotry.  A  true  Meth- 
odist not  only  loves  a  Methodist  everywhere,  but  he  also  loves 
every  man  who  bears  the  Saviour's  image.  He  sa}Ts  with 
Wesley  to  men  of  all  creeds,  "If  tlrv  heart  be  as  my  heart, 
give  me  thy  hand."  And  though  in  its  infancy  Methodism  had 
its  controversies,  they  were  not  of  its  own  seeking. 

Its  usages  also  harmonize  with  its  doctrines.  When  Meth- 
odism arose,  its  surroundings  were  vastly  different  from  those 
of  to-day.  Then  the  people  had  few  religious  associations  in 
which  they  personally  took  part.  Nearly  all  public  services 
were  confined  to  the  ministry.  The  other  day  I  picked  up  a 
volume  I  had  once  read,  the  "  Life  of  Walker,"  one  oi*  those 
evangelical  men  who  labored  in  the  great  revival  in  which 
Wesley  was  engaged,  a  minister  of  the  Church  of  England.  In 
that  work  was  given  a  number  of  letters,  which  he  wrote  to 
Mr.  Wesley  and  others  who  took  part  in  the  great  movement. 
He  cheered  them,  urged  them  forward,  and  to  a  certain  extent 
co-operated.  Yet  he  was  so  fearful  of  violating  church  order, 
and  of  introducing  fanaticism,  that  he  never  allowed  a  laj^man 
to  speak  or  lead  in  prayer  when  he  was  present.  Against  such 
an  exclusive  spirit  Methodism  uttered  its  protest,  and  Mr. 
Wesley  taught  the  people  everywhere  to  pray  and  sing,  and  he 
called  upon  the  old  men  and  the  }-oung  men  to  raise  songs  of 
devotion  and  true  thanksgiving  to  God,  and  encouraged  the 
babes  in  Christ  to  lisp  forth  the  glad  tidings  of  what  God  had 
done  for  them.  He  allowed  women  to  speak  in  the  social 
meetings  of  the  Church.  [Applause.]  And  long  before  the 
days  of  "  Women's  Rights,"  when  no  Conventions  were  being 
held  to  assert  the  rights  of  women,  Methodism  took  the  moth- 
ers, and  the  wives,  and  the  sisters,  and  the  daughters  by  the 
hand,  and  gave  them  the  right  to  tell  what  God  had  done  for 
them.  And  there  are  many  of  us  standing  here  to-day,  that 
owe  possibly  all  we  are  in  the  Church,  and  all  that  we  can  do 
in  the  world,  to  those  sainted  mothers  to  whose  prayers  we 


Bisnor  Simpson's  address.  139 

listened  in  childhood,  and  who  taught  us  to  clasp  our  little 
hands  together,  and  say,  "  Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven." 

Methodism  cultivated  the  social  principle.  It  called  out  all 
the  membership  of  the  Church.  At  the  class-meetings  every 
man  must  speak,  and  every  woman  must  speak.  At  the  gen- 
eral class- meetings,  at  the  love-feasts,  at  the  old  quarterly- 
meetings,  when  they  came  from  distances  of  perhaps  thirty 
miles,  they  came  to  tell  what  God  did  for  them.  They  were 
Bpeakers  for  Jesus.  What  was  the  effect  of  this?  To  draw 
the  hearts  of  the  people  together,  and,  as  a  result,  Methodists 
knew  each  other,  Methodists  loved  each  other,  Methodists 
worked  for  each  other. 

The  economy  of  the  Church  had  also  the  same  tendency. 
The  minister  was  not  the  pastor  merely  of  one  church  or  con- 
gregation. Under  the  grand  system  of  itinerancy,  he  changed 
from  circuit  to  circuit,  and  thus  served  as  a  bond  of  union 
among  the  churches.  Old  acquaintances  visited  him  in  his 
new  field  of  labor,  and  thus  the  membership  learned  to  know 
and  to  sympathize  with  each  other. 

Then  again,  the  circuit  system,  by  which  ten  or  sometimes 
twenty  or  thirty  societies  were  united  in  one  pastoral  charge, 
and  the  official  members  were  brought  together  on  quarterly- 
meeting  occasions,  tended  powerfully  to  promote  the  social 
spirit,  and  to  promote  social  effort.  In  progress  of  time,  how- 
ever, part  of  these  social  influences,  I  am  Bony  to  say,  have 
been  lost.  When  churches  are  small,  the  members  recognize 
each  other.  When  they  met  in  the  sail-loft,  they  shook  hands 
with  each  other.  When  they  met  in  the  country  cabins,  they 
never  parted  without  inquiring  for  each  other's  welfare.  When, 
the  churches  are  very  small,  the  people  will  pass  across  and 
become  acquainted.  As, churches  grow,  arid  increase  in  mem- 
bers, there  necessarily  arises  a  difficulty  in  this  respect ;  the. 
congregations  cannot  all  recognize  each  other ;  and,  from  find- 
ing out  that  the}'  cannot  do  it,  there  grows  up  a  carelessness 
in  reference  to  this  matter.  If  we  live  in  villages  we  know  our 
neighbors,  and  in  very  small  towns  we  know  every  one,  every 
house,  and  its  inhabitants.  But  in  the  city  we  cannot  know 
every  one,  and  the  result  is,  that  we  have  but  few  neighbors 


140  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

whom  we  even  learn  to  recognize.  This  feeling  grows  on  the 
human  mind.  It  is  so  in  our  churches.  I  cannot  tell  how  it 
is  in  Boston,  or  in  New  England  generally,  but  I  am  sony  to 
say,  that,  from  my  observation  in  other  parts  of  the  Church, 
there  is  not  that  desire  to  recognize  every  member  of  the 
Church  that  once  existed  in  the  bosom  of  the  Church.  I  think 
in  this  respect  we  are  in  error,  and  that  we  cannot  fully  ac- 
complish the  work  it  is  our  duty  to  accomplish,  until  every 
member  tries  to  become  acquainted  with  every  other  member 
of  the  Church,  and  we  come  back  to  the  spirit  of  the  ancient 
times. 

Then  again,  as  stations  take  the  place  of  circuits,  another 
difficulty  arises.  The  circuit  sj'stem,  under  the  supervision  of 
the  same  minister,  draws  men  from  different  appointments,  two, 
four,  ten,  or  twenty  miles ;  but,  when  divided  into  separate 
stations,  all  these  appointments  have  learned  to  be  independent. 
Each  labors  for  itself,  seems  to  feel  that  it  has  as  much  to  do 
as  it  can  accomplish,  and  all  the  labors  of  the  society  termi- 
nate upon  itself.  There  is  no  recognition  of  the  societies  in 
the  vicinity,  and  those  good  old  days  of  the  quarterly-meetings 
have  passed  away.  Then  there  was  one  circuit,  one  Church,  one 
religious  body.  The  fathers  know  of  the  quarterly-meetings, 
when  men  used  to  gather  from  far ;  doors  were  thrown  open, 
and  men  were  welcomed  from  the  regions  round  about.  Sweet 
were  the  communings  of  heart !  The  ordinary  quarterly- 
meeting  now  is  not  such  a  gathering.  But  here  is  a  quarterly- 
meeting  in  the  true  sense  and  spirit  of  it.  Here  you  have  met. 
Here  Maine  shakes  hands  with  Rhode  Island  ;  Massachusetts 
opens  her  arms  to  embrace  New  Hampshire,  Vermont  and  Con- 
necticut. I  have  marked  the  tears  that  started  from  your  eyes, 
and  the  ascriptions  of  praise  since  you  have  been  together. 
Your  hearts  have  been  communing  with  the  blessed  Saviour. 
It  is  a  revival  of  the  old  social  feeling  again  ;  and  I  thank  God 
your  New  England  has  set  the  example  to  the  Church  of  such 
a  Convention  as  we  see  to-day.  This  spirit  among  us  augurs 
well.  I  am  not  afraid  of  this  Convention  tearing  the  Church 
to  pieces.  I  am  not  afraid  of  these  old  Methodist  fathers 
coming  to  shake  hands  together ;  coming  to  ask,  "  What  can 


bishop  Simpson's  addbess.  141 

we  do  for  Methodism?"  These  men  of  Christian  hearts  In- 
tend, God  helping  them,  to  do  something  more  for  the  Church, 
before  they  are  called  on  high.  [Applause  and  "  Aniens."] 
God  help  them  to  do  a  great  deal  before  their  mission  here  is 
ended. 

In  cultivating  this  social  principle  more  fully,  allow  me  to 
say  that  the  way  to  make  men's  hearts  grow  together,  is  to  give 
them  some  work.  Man  must  have  something  to  do  to  keep 
lii in  from  doing  the  devil's  work.  If  you  want  to  keep  a  so- 
ciety from  quarrelling,  keep  it  bus}-.  Why,  here  is  Father 
Taylor,  who  knows  how  they  keep  the  sailor-boys  scrubbing 
the  decks,  and  cleaning  down  the  masts  and  spars,  even  when 
there  is  no  need  of  it ;  and  it  is  even  so  with  a  religions  so- 
ciety, for  there  is  ever  necessity  for  discipline.  If  you  would 
have  Christians  happy,  give  them  plenty  of  work  to  do.  How 
shall  we  do  it?  There  was  one  excellent  suggestion  in  the 
essay  we  heard  :  "  Let  not  the  fathers  undertake  to  do  all  the 
work  of  the  Church."  They  have  done  a  great  deal.  God 
bless  them.  The}r  can  do  a  great  deal  more.  May  God  pre- 
serve them  to  be  four  score  and  ten  among  us,  if  it  be  his  will ; 
but  let  these  fathers  call  to  their  aid  the  young  men.  Culti- 
vate their  business  talent.  Appoint  them  to  stand  at  the  door 
to  seat  strangers.  Get  the  young  merchants  to  stand  there, 
and  invite  joung  men  and  others  who  are  strangers,  into  the 
church.  Get  your  professional  men  to  be  active,  and  you  will 
do  them  a  great  kindness,  and  show  them  the  blessedness  of 
being  "doorkeepers  in  the  house  of  the  Lord."  Let  them 
icork  for  Christ. 

Let  me  say  more.  As  men  grow  in  means,  and  have  some 
professional  business  to  do,  and  as  they  are  called  out  into 
public  life,  perhaps  get  some  small  oflice,  let  them  be  very 
careful  to  redouble  their  diligence  in  these  religious  matters. 
If  a  man  has  become  a  member  of  Congress,  I  would  have  him 
lead  two  classes  instead  of  one.  [Applause.]  If  a  man  has 
been  made  Lieutenant  Governor,  I  would  have  him  become 
trustee,  class-leader,  and  steward,  all  three.  [Continued  ap- 
plause.] If  a  man  is  growing  in  wealth,  let  us  not  distrust 
him ;  but  let  him  keep  up  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  God. 


142  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

Let  Christian  men  have  ever  so  many  offices,  the  more  the  bet- 
ter ;  but  let  them  add  to  their  Christian  graces  while  they  en- 
gage in  these  great  public  works. 

Let  me  say,  in  this  connection,  lest  I  be  misunderstood,  as 
to  members  of  Congress  and  public  functionaries,  I  have  no 
faith  in  religion  that  cannot  stand  the  test  of  public  life  as  well 
as  of  private  life.  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  yet  to  be- 
come the  kingdoms  of  Christ.  Ma}^  the  day  be  hastened,  that, 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  good  men  of  all  Christian  de- 
nominations may  fill  the  offices  of  the  land.  [Applause.] 
And  God  grant  that  they  may  not  only  be  "  Moses  "  in  name, 
but  in  deed  and  in  truth.     [Tremendous  applause.] 

What  I  say  as  to  public  life,  I  apply  to  all  things  that  may 
be  necessary  to  human  elevation,  whether  you  name  music  or 
poetry,  architecture  or  the  fine  arts,  or  all  of  them.  Whatever 
ennobles  man,  ought  to  be  sanctified  by  Christianity.  Chris- 
tianity is  yet  to  gather  around  her  all  the  graces  of  civilization 
and  culture.  Poetry,  painting,  the  beautiful  in  art,  as  well  as 
the  beautiful  in  nature,  are  all  to  gather  round  the  cross  of 
Christ ;  and  all  that  God  has  made  of  the  grand  and  the  lovely 
ought  to  be  consecrated  to  the  success  of  his  cause  on  earth. 
The  province  of  the  Church  is,  then,  a  very  wide  province. 
Let  her  feel  that  God  sends  her  to  bless  and  instruct  the  high- 
est as  well  as  the  lowest.  But  whilst  thus  looking  out  for  the 
high  places  of  earth,  let  the  Church  never  forget  the  poor, — 
never,  no,  never.  I  would,  if  I  could,  have  the  wealth  of  the 
world  in  the  Church ;  I  would,  if  I  could,  have  the  learning  of 
the  world  in  the  Church  ;  but  if  I  must  give  up  the  higher 
class  of  societj'  altogether,  or  give  up  the  lower  class  of 
society  altogether,  —  if  I  must  abandon  one  or  the  other, — 
I  tell  you,  in  view  of  the  future,  both  in  time  and  eternity,  I 
would  give  up  the  rich,  and  cleave  unto  the  poor.  [Great  ap- 
plause.] The  reason  is  this :  The  poor  are  more  numerous  ; 
there  are  more  souls  among  them.  If  I  could  save  only  one 
class,  I  would  save  this  most  numerous  class.  They  have  not 
the  comforts  of  the  gospel.  Besides,  the  poor  of  this  world 
will  yet  become  the  rich.  The  solid  men  of  Boston  to-da}- 
were  poor  bo3's.     But  there  is  no  reason,  there  is  no  necessity 


bishop  Simpson's  address.  143 

to  abandon  any.  The  gospel  is  a  light  for  all.  It  can  reach 
the  prince  on  his  throne,  the  beggar  on  his  dunghill ;  it  could 
save  a  Moses  and  a  David,  an  Isaiah  and  a  Jeremiah,  and 
could  save  a  Lazarus,  and  bear  him  to  Abraham's  bosom. 

Brethren,  in  this  centenary  year,  and  on  this  occasion,  let 
me  repeat,  do  all  }rou  can  to  cultivate  this  social  and  this  con- 
nectional  feeling.  Draw  the  hearts  of  the  people  together. 
Meet  in  your  different  districts.  Devise  ways  and  means  to 
edify  the  people.  Give  }Tour  members  all  to  do  that  they  can 
do.  Then  will  you  see  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  prospering 
among  }-ou. 

I  will  take  a  step  further,  and  say  that,  as  far  as  nrry  obser- 
vation extends  in  other  cities,  there  is  more  inter-com- 
munion between  the  members  of  other  churches  than  between 
the  members  of  Methodist  churches.  It  may  not  be  so  in 
Boston.  Other  denominations  have  long  been  in  these  great 
centers.  They  have  managed  to  get  the  control  of  the  great 
benevolent  institutions.  Is  there  a  Christian  Commission 
started,  a  Bible  Society,  an  institution  for  orphans,  or  any 
work  of  benevolence,  on  the  Boards  which  meet  from  week  to 
week,  from  month  to  month,  or  from  year  to  year,  Christian  men 
of  various  churches  meet  together  in  council,  and,  as  a  result, 
they  become  acquainted  with  each  other.  We  have  very  few 
positions  on  these  Boards,  and  consequently  lose  these  oppor- 
tunities. You  have  very  few  State  associations  of  a  Methodist 
character.  This  Convention  is  the  first  one,  I  believe,  of  this 
kind  ;  but  I  hope  it  is  the  precursor  of  those  which  shall  meet 
for  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and 
Rhode  Island  ;  and  I  hope  to  see  in  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania great  gatherings  also,  until  the  Methodists  shall  be  ac- 
quainted with  their  brethren  in  all  parts  of  these  States. 

I  am  asked,  what  good  can  come  from  this  Convention? 
I  Bay,  much,  every  way.  The  social  feeling  is  cultivated. 
Here  lnethren  have  come  from  the  different  States;  here  men 
who  had  never  spoken  together  have  shaken  hands  with  each 
other,  in  the  name  of  our  common  Christianity  and  common 
Methodism,  and  they  will  go  away  stimulated  with  love  and 
zcai ;    and  when  you  hereafter  hear  that  one   of  these  men 


144  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

has  done  some  great  act,  your  hearts  will  be  led  to  imitate 
him.  The  Centenary  contributions  will  be  swelled  by  this 
Convention  at  least  fifty  per  cent. 

In  the  West,  where  I  am  better  acquainted,  the  Church  is 
devising  liberal  things.  It  is  proposing  a  thank-offering  of 
ten  dollars  per  member.  It  is  setting  the  mark  high,  perhaps  ; 
but,  I  am  glad  to  say,  the  people  are  coming  up  to  it  in  many 
places.  Some  little  villages  are  giving  from  ten  to  twenty 
thousand  dollars,  to  endow  the  institutions  of  learning  in 
which  the}T  are  interested.  If  the  city  of  Boston  and  the  vil- 
lages of  New  England  should  set  their  mark  at  ten  dollars  per 
member,  what  would  be  the  result?  Your  great  Biblical 
School  would  rise  in  beauty  and  magnificence,  and  indeed  be 
the  "  School  of  the  Prophets  ;  "  your  University  would  be  a 
glory  and  ornament  to  the  land  ;  your  academies  would  be  full 
of  students,  and  a  very  bright  day,  a  more  glorious  day,  would 
dawn  upon  New  England  Methodism.  God  grant  that  that  day 
ma}'  speedily  come  !     [Applause.] 

But,  brethren,  I  will  not  detain  you.  We  are  standing  now 
at  the  close  of  the  first  century.  I  would  but  cast  a  glance, 
ere  I  sit  down,  at  the  past  and  the  future.  The  past  century  ! 
How  full  —  aye,  full  of  hallowed  thoughts  !  What  deeds  of 
the  fathers,  what  noble  heroism,  what  sacrifices,  what  priva- 
tions, what  toil !  The  fathers  —  where  are  they?  Gone  home 
to  ^lory.  You  are  their  sons  ;  and  to-night,  while  you  gather 
in  this  beautiful  Temple,  it  seems  to  me  the  fathers  gather 
round  you.  Above  these  lights  that  shine  upon  us,  above  this 
beautiful  roof  which  spreads  over  us,  they  come  down  to  meet 
and  cheer  and  welcome  us.  Could  we  see  those  who  have 
died  in  Jesus,  those  who  have  gone  home  triumphantly,  the 
fathers,  mothers,  and  dear  ones  that  have  fallen  from  our 
sight,  our  arms,  and  our  influence,  oh,  what  a  host,  in  spirit, 
would  be  here  to  rejoice  in  what  Methodism  has  done  for  the 
cause  of  Christianity  and  the  world.  Behold  the  triumph  of 
Methodism  in  the  most  glorious  age  of  the  world !  It  has 
gone  hand  in  hand  with  the  sciences  and  civilization ;  and,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  has  triumphed  in  your  old  New  England 
society,  where,  sir,  every  element  was  opposed  to  it,  seventy 
or  eighty  years  ago. 


bishop  Simpson's  address..  145 

Now,  what  for  the  future?  Let  another  centenary  come, 
and  you  and  I  will  not  be  here  ;  or  if  we  are  here,  it  will  be  as 
those  blessed  ones  who  have  belt  from  the  highest  glory  to 
look  upon  us.  But  our  children's  children  will  be  here.  They 
will  Bing  the  same  songs,  join  in  the  same  worship  ;  and  if  our 
increase  be,  in  the  next  century,  the  same  as  in  the  past,  from 
mountain  to  mountain,  from  valle}'  to  valley,  from  ocean  to 
ocean,  there  shall  one  great  song  rise  up  of  ''Alleluia,  the 
Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth  !  "  [Applause.]  "What  a  day 
shall  we  have,  and  what  a  shout  in  gloiy !  [Voices  saying 
u  Amen."]  A  word,  and  I  have  done.  You  may  call  me  en- 
thusiast ;  you  may  call  me  fanatic ;  call  me  what  you  will,  I 
love  responses.  Yes,  I  would  have  a  people  to  worship.  I 
would  not  have  quiet,  still,  dull,  and  sleeping  congregations. 
If  we  are  meeting  like  brethren,  we  rejoice  over  the  interests  of 
the  Church.  Why  should  we  not  rejoice,  when  the  heavens 
are  opened,  and  the  angels  come  down  to  us?  When  the 
songs  of  God  are  being  sung,  why  should  we  not  rejoice  in  the 
house  of  God?  I  do  not  think  that  Methodism  could  have 
ever  sprung  from  the  Congregational  Church.  It  sprung  out 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  where  the  people  learned  to  say 
"Amen"  by  rote.  [Applause.]  They  had  been  used  to  say 
it  at  the  end  of  the  prayers,  in  the  set  places ;  they  then  said 
it,  sometimes,  before  the  end  of  the  pi^er.  [Laughter.] 
These  responses  of  Methodism  are  nothing  but  the  pra}-er- 
book  ignited  and  burnt  into  the  hearts,  and  uttered  by  the 
seraph-touched  tongues  of  earnest  worshippers.     [Sensation.] 

Brethren,  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  is  for  the  in- 
crease of  Methodism,  the  strength  of  Methodism,  because  I 
believe  it  to  be  Christianity.  Now,  wherever  you  go,  labor  as 
brethren,  saying,  "God  helping  us,  we  will  work  for  Method- 
ism and  Christ  more  than  ever  we  have  done."  [Continued 
applause.] 

At  the  close  of  the  Bishop's  remarks,  the  Convention 
adjourned  with  the  singing  of  the  doxology,  and  the  ben- 
ediction by  Rev.  Dr.  Feck,  of  California. 


146  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

THURSDAY  MORNING. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  by  Rev.  Dr.  Cum- 
mings,  of  the  New  England  Conference,  one  of  the  Vice 
Presidents,  in  the  absence  of  the  Hon.  President.  The 
hymn  commencing, 

"  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name,'* 

was  sung,  and  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  S.  H.  Beale,  of 
the  East  Maine  Conference. 

The  minutes  of  yesterday's  proceedings  were  read  and 
approved. 

Rev.  Joseph  Marsh,  a  venerable  local  preacher  of  the 
Providence  Conference,  was  introduced  as  the  representa- 
tive of  the  New  England  Methodist  Episcopal  Local 
Preachers'  Association,  and  by  invitation  addressed  the 
Convention  as  follows  :  — 

I  was  not  aware  until  this  morning  that  I  should  be  called 
upon  to  say  anything  in  regard  to  the  local  preachers  of  New 
England.  When  I  came  in  this  morning,  I  heard  Brother 
Sheffield  speaking  about  stirring  up  the  local  preachers.  And 
in  the  address  by  Dr.  Webber  the  question  was  asked,  what 
shall  we  do  for,  or  with,  the  weak  places  of  our  Zion  ?  The  local 
preachers  of  the  New  England  Conference,  and  other  Confer- 
ences, are  men  who  have  business  and  fortunes,  and  preach 
without  salaiw.  They  are  helps  to  the  itinerancy.  They  were 
first  created  in  order  to  fill  up  places  in  circuits  ;  but,  as  the  work 
is  cut  up  into  stations,  there  is  no  proper  work  for  them.  If  work 
is  made  by  themselves,  they  interfere  with  the  small  stations  in 
the  different  places  of  New  England,  and  in  other  parts  of  the 
country.  If  the  circuit  sj'stem  should  be  again  introduced, 
there  would  be  no  need  of  anybody  stirring  up  the  local  preach- 
ers to  work.  The  Discipline  provides,  I  believe,  that  the  min- 
isters of  the  Conferences  shall  provide  work,  or  set  to  work,  the 
local  preachers  of  their  several  charges.  You  have  licensed 
them  to  preach  the  gospel.     You  have  said  that  they  have 


REV.  MB.  marsh's  address.  147 

grace  and  gifts,  and  you  have  believed,  from  their  testimony, 
that  they  are  called  of  God,  called  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  to 
preach  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God.  And  then  many  of  the 
people  of  the  cities,  even  of  our  brethren,  turn  round  and  say 
that  they  will  not  hear  them  in  their  pulpits. 

If  the  local  preachers  are  to  work  effectively,  and  to  do 
good,  it  must  be  in  connection  with  the  travelling  preachers. 
There  must  not  be  two  classes,  and  two  interests,  but  they 
must  labor  with  the  itinerant  ministers  in  the  great  work  of 
supplying  the  poor  societies  in  the  different  parts  of  the  great 
work  laid  out  for  our  hands.  I  have  been  consulted,  frequent- 
ly, in  this  city,  on  this  matter,  and  I  have  protested,  and  still 
protest,  against  separate  interests.  The  local  preacher  and 
the  itinerant  preacher  should  shake  hands  together,  and  work 
together.     If  this  can't  be  done,  then  nothing  will  be  done. 

We  have  formed  an  Association.  I  Bimply  consented  to  it 
because  it  is  better  to  form  an  Association  and  do  something, 
than  not  have  an  Association  and  not  do  anything.  For  fifty 
years  I  have  been  a  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  have  taken  care  of  myself.  My  salary  has 
amounted  to  just  about  $25  a  year.  The  first  sixteen  years  I 
had  a  new  hat,  and  a  half  bushel  of  apples. 

I  heard  Brother  North  speak  yesterday  in  regard  to  the 
sacrifices  or  non-sacrifices  of  the  ministry.  Brother  North  was 
not  serious.  I  know  Brother  North,  but  he  does  not  know  me. 
He  lost  two  fortunes  in  the  great  war  of  anti-slavery,  and  al- 
most his  life  ;  but,  after  all,  Brother  North  would  be  very  sorry 
to-day,  as  a  merchant,  to  become  a  Methodist  preacher,  and 
take  up  with  the  sacrifices  which  Methodist  preachers  are 
necessitated  to  make,  and  I  would  like  to  send  Brother  North 
South  this  morning.     (Laughter.) 

I  do  believe,  for  I  am  speaking  of  these  local  preachers  that  I 
know,  and  with  whose  reputation  I  have  been  more  acquainted, 
that  they  are  read}'  to  go  out  to  the  poor,  and  preach  the  gos- 
pel to  the  poor,  if  it  can  be  done,  with  the  aid  and  support  of 
the  ministers  from  the  Conferences.  We  have  pewed  churches  ; 
pewed  churches,  the  great  nuisances  of  the  land.  [Laughter, 
and  voices  saying  "  Amen  !  "]     I  should  like  to  know  the  man 


148  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

in  whose  heart  first  the  idea  was  created  of  building  boxes  for 
men  to  hear  the  gospel  in.  You  may  just  as  well  bar  your 
doors  with  bolts  of  iron  against  the  poor  of  the  land,  as  to 
have  your  pewed  and  rich  churches  ;  they  cannot  enter  —  they 
do  not  enter. 

But  what  are  we  to  do  with  the  local  preaching  ?  What  has 
this  thing  to  do  with  it?  If  you  have  your  circuit  S3Tstem,  the 
local  preachers  can  be  employed,  and  the  churches  will  be 
free,  as  a  matter  of  course,  when  the  circuits  are  created.  As 
a  matter  of  course  ;  for  it  would  be  an  inconsistency  to  have 
independent  churches,  with  beautiful  seats,  with  their  con- 
veniences, and  the  poor  shut  out.  I  have  in  my  possession 
now  a  Baltimore  plan  (and  my  name  is  on  that  plan)  of  thirty- 
five  3'ears  ago.  They  have  free  churches  in  Baltimore  ;  five 
churches  when  I  was  there.  They  have  built  one  pewed 
church  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  and  the  brethren  will  never, 
never,  never  build  another.  The  population  of  Baltimore  is 
about  the  same  as  that  of  Boston.  Now  there  are  there  forty- 
one  Methodist  churches,  all  free,  where  the  poor  can  go ;  and 
in  Boston  3-011  have  the  good  number  of  nine.  Let  the  cir- 
cuit S3* stem  be  introduced,  and  carried  out  with  the  help  of  the 
local  preachers,  who  are  ready  to  work,  as  in  Maiyland,  and 
in  twenty  3Tears  3Tou  will  have  fifty^  churches  in  Boston  ;  and  all 
round  the  country,  in  Brighton,  Quinc3T,  and  ever3Twhere,  the 
fires  will  be  lighted  up,  the  local  preachers  at  work,  God 
glorified,  and  Methodism  known  all  over  New  England  and  the 
world,  as  the  great  power  to  save  souls.  I  am  sorry  the  clock 
goes  so  fast,  but  m3T  time  is  up. 

The  Convention  proceeded  to  listen  to  an  essay  from 
Rev.  A.  Prince,  of  the  East  Maine  Conference,  on  "  How 
can  the  old  Connectional  Spirit  of  Methodism  be  revived 
and  perpetuated  ?  " 

Methodism,  planted  here  in  1766,  has,  in  a  single  centun', 
overspread  this  country.  It  has  even  recrossed  the  ocean,  and 
established  itself  in  eveiy  quarter  of  the  Old  World.  There  is 
substantial  agreement  among  all  the  members  that  adhere  to 


REV.    MR.    PRINCE'S    ESSAY.  149 

the  original  body.  But  the  question  implies  that  the  old  con- 
nectional  spirit  has  declined,  and  may  expire.  Whatever  may 
be  the  truth  as  to  the  past,  there  is  ground  for  apprehension 
touching  the  future.  All  now  in  the  Church  are,  during  the 
next  hundred  years,  to  leave  it,  and  millions  of  new  members 
are  to  take  their  places.  These  will  come  from  different  civil 
and  social  conditions,  and  will  represent  numerous  races  and 
religions.  Over  them  the  Church  can  have  onljr  a  moral  influ- 
ence, from  them  she  can  receive  only  a  voluntary  support.  A 
defect  in  her  polity,  an  error  in  doctrine,  a  mistake  in  admin- 
istration, may  alienate  thousands  from  her  communion.  But 
another  division  of  Methodism  we  deplore.  It  was  almost  co- 
temporary  in  origin  with  the  United  States  Government.  The 
history  of  these  two  commonwealths  has  been  similar.  Both 
tolerated  slavery,  and  the  dark  demon,  having  effected  the  dis- 
ruption of  one,  undertook  the  overthrow  of  the  other.  Their 
interests  are  identical.  The  State  protects  the  Church,  and 
the  Church  supports  the  State.  It  concerns  both  that  each 
shall  be  united,  extended,  and  enduring. 

Not  less  essential  to  the  cause  of  Christ  is  the  union  of  his 
people.  We  deprecate  schism  in  the  kingdom  of  God.  Want 
of  concord  among  men  who  hold  the  same  views  of  truth  and 
of  duty,  is  a  sad  sight.  Ancient  Israel,  gathered  around 
Mount  Zion,  agreeing  in  faith  and  united  in  worship,  elicited 
the  inspired  utterance,  "  Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it 
is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity  !  "  But  want  of  har- 
mony is  the  weakness  as  well  as  the  reproach  of  the  Christian 
world.  God's  people  are,  in  this  age,  called  to  heavy  fighting 
and  hard  work.  There  is  as  much  need  of  large  churches  as 
of  huge  engines  or  mammoth  ships.  The  question  of  the  union 
of  Methodism  in  sentiment  and  in  form,  underlies,  or,  at  least, 
involves,  every  other  before  this  Convention.  But  this  dis- 
cussion of  its  conditions  must  be  suggestive  rather  than  ex- 
haustive.    The  Church  must, 

1.  Conserve  certain  interests. 

In  enumerating  these,  the  integrity  of  her  doctrines  may  be 
first  named.  While  we  do  not  fear  that  scientific  investigation 
will   unsettle  her  essential,  or  even  her  distinctive  faith,  we 


150  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

must  avoid  the  error  of  confounding  questions  of  physics  or 
metaphysics  .with  those  of  theology  ;  and  thus  identifying  the 
defence  of  an  unimportant  outwork  with  the  security  of  the 
central  citadel.  Evangelical  experience  must  be  maintained, 
and  the  moral  rectitude  of  members  insisted  on.  Can  two 
walk  together  except  they  be  agreed  in  these  vital  matters  ? 
We  must  continue  to  cultivate  the  social  element,  and  also  pre- 
serve our  ecclesiastical  system.  These  complement  and  aid 
each  other.  Above  all,  Methodism  must  retain  her  established 
character  of  a  revival  church.  Other  conditions  of  union  are 
important,  but  this  is  vital.  They  are  the  machinery  of  man, 
this  is  the  inspiration  of  God.  Human  means  may  secure  con- 
ventional uniformity,  but  divine  grace  alone  can  produce  the 
unity  of  the  Spirit.  To  revive  and  perpetuate  the  connectional 
spirit,  it  will  be  necessarj7, 

2.  To  expand  and  intensify  certain  agencies. 

There  are  ligaments  that  unite,  and  forces  that  vitalize,  the 
ecclesiastical  bod}7,  and  upon  their  strength  and  healthful  ac- 
tivity must  depend  its  harmony  and  growth.  Prominent 
among  these  is  liberal  provision  for  education,  and  thorough 
oversight  and  control  of  its  institutions  b}T  the  Church.  Like 
a  great  workshop,  she  contains  machinery  for  building 
churches  and  securing  them  to  the  body,  for  publishing  books 
and  guaranteeing  their  character.  By  the  regular  operations 
of  the  establishment,  missions  and  Sabbath-schools  are  planted 
and  superintended,  and  ministers  received,  employed,  and  sup- 
ported. But  there  is  no  wheel  specificalty  fitted  and  assigned 
to  found  and  maintain  literary  institutions.  Endow  and  adopt 
colleges  and  seminaries  of  such  character,  and  in  such  numbers, 
as  will  meet  the  wants  of  all  of  both  sexes  that  are  within  the 
Church,  or  under  her  influence.  Then  identify  Methodism  with 
its  schools,  and  identify  its  schools  with  Methodism,  and  they 
will,  every  year,  send  out  thousands  of  choice  youth  to 
strengthen  connectional  bonds,  and  revive  the  connectional 
spirit. 

Money  must  be  made  to  promote  religious  union  to  an  ex- 
tent that  it  has  never  yet  done.  God  designs  that  it  shall  do 
this  work.     Contributions  to  a  central  fund  or  monument  will 


REV.    MR.    PRINCE'S    ESSAY.  151 

serve  to  unite  those  that  make  them.  The  judicious  distribu- 
tion of  these  common  offerings  to  the  cause  of  missions,  edu- 
cation, or  church-extension,  over  all  our  work,  will  be  still 
more  productive  ol  unity.  This  may  be  done  in  a  way,  and  on 
conditions,  that  will  not  only  give  new  life  to  our  educational 
S3'stem,  and  make  moral  deserts  as  the  garden  of  the  Lord, 
but,  at  the  same  time,  bind  our  schools  and  our  missions  in  in- 
timate  and  enduring  relationship  to  the  Church. 

Literature  does  for  the  denomination  what  the  blood  effects 
for  the  animal  economy  :  vitalizes  and  strengthens  all  the 
parts.  If  the  coining  millions  can  be  induced  to  read  the 
books  that  contain  our  history,  doctrines,  rules,  and  biogra- 
phies, and  also  the  periodicals  that  record  our  labof%  and  de- 
fend our  usages,  we  need  have  but  few  fears  for  the  future. 
But,  in  order  to  do  this,  the  supply  must  be  ample,  and  the 
circulation  active  and  regular.  It  is  the  rare  prerogative,  if 
not  the  imperative  duty,  of  Methodism,  to  make  a  sanctified 
literature  the  cheapest  in  the  land.  Has  not  the  time  come, 
when  she  should  so  Jower  the  price  as  to  increase  the  sale  of 
her  publications?  Might  she  not,  in  a  short  time,  double  their 
circulation,  without  diminishing  her  revenue? 

But  the  most  important  circulating  agent  is  the  ministry. 
The  connectional  spirit  must  largely  depend  in  the  future,  as 
it  has  depended  in  the  past,  on  the  frequent  interchange,  or 
extensive  diffusion,  of  ministerial  gifts.  Episcopal  supervision 
is,  in  its  influence  upon  the  preachers,  invaluable  for  this  end. 
But  the  visits  of  the  bishops  are  few  and  brief,  and  their  con- 
tact with  the  people  slight  and  restricted.  Why  not  double 
their  number,  and  thus  increase  an  influence  so  salutary,  and 
so  much  in  demand  ?  But  stationed  ministers  associate  inti- 
mately, and  for  years,  with  those  whom  they  serve,  leaving 
upon  them  a  deeper  impress.  Hence  the  necessit}-  for  frequent 
and  extended  removals.  Such  is  the  intrinsic  importance  of 
itinerancy,  and  such  its  effect  upon  all  other  connecting  liga- 
ments, that,  if  seriously  impaired,  there  must  follow  the  di- 
vision, if  not  the  disintegration,  of  the  Church.  This  institu- 
tion must  be  preserved,  and  its  operation  should  be  extended. 
A  contracted  itinerancy  is  open  to  all  the  objections,  in  kind, 


152  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

that  lie  against  a  settled  pastorate.  To  enlarge  the  sphere  is 
to  increase  the  utility  of  this  institution.  And  such  expansion 
seems  as  legitimate  as  it  would  be  useful.  The  genius  of  our 
economy  is  understood  to  be  this  :  every  Conference  is  entitled 
to  a  fair  proportion  of  the  effective  men  in  the  travelling  minis- 
try, and  every  charge  has  a  claim,  to  be  measured  by  its  neces- 
sities and  the  availability  of  a  supply,  upon  every  itinerant 
minister  in  the  Church.  And  the  converse  of  this  last  state- 
ment is  also  deemed  to  be  true  ;  namely,  every  travelling- 
preacher  is  eligible  in  law  —  not  fitted  in  fact  —  to  every  cir- 
cuit and  station  in  the  Connection.  This  measure  of  recipro- 
cal right  does  not  depend  upon  the  relative  importance  of  Con- 
ferences and  Charges,  nor  upon  the  relative  abilities  of  minis- 
ters, but  upon  their  connectional  relations  and  attitude.  Under 
our  system,  a  surplus  of  ministers  in  one  Conference,  and  a 
scarcity  in  another,  is  as  incongruous  as  it  is  hurtful  and  un- 
just. If  the  frontier  work  lacks  laborers,  while  the  central 
Conferences  have  more  men  than  they  can  station,  the  con- 
nectional spirit  will  not  be  apt  to  revive  among  the  less  favored. 
Men  become  travelling  ministers  under  the  solemn  pledge  to  go 
not  onty  to  those  that  want  them,  but  to  those  that  want  them 
most,  and  to  do  that  part  of  the  work  which  we  advise,  at  those 
times  and  places  which  we  judge  most  for  God's  glory.  Thus 
did  Boardman  and  Pilmoor,  Asbury  and  Wright,  Garretson 
and  Lee.  The  obligation  to  equalize  the  supply  of  men,  and 
impartially  distribute  the  gifts  that  God  confers  upon  his 
Church,  is  deducible  from  the  genius,  the  history,  and  the  dis- 
cipline of  Methodism,  and  is  also  essential  to  the  unity  of  the 
body. 

Another  help  to  the  connectional  spirit  will  be, 
3.  To  reclaim  those  that  have  left  our  communion. 
To  all  who  went  out  on  merely  economical  issues,  liberal  ad- 
vances should  be  made  to  secure  their  return.  And  those  who 
separated  on  moral  grounds,  may  be  received  when  they  abjure 
their  errors,  and  renounce  their  wrongs.  To  restore  a  single 
fragment  that  has  been  projected  from  the  main  body,  is  to 
convert  so  much  centrifugal  force  into  centripetal  attraction. 
It  is  to  bring  back  wandering  children,  —  perhaps  once  victims 


REV.    MB.    PBINCB'S   ESSAY.  158 

of  undue  parental  severity,  —  who,  if  they  heartily  return, 
should  be  joyfully  received.  But  we  must  not,  to  get  them 
back,  relax  family  discipline,  or  rebuild  our  shattered  home- 
stead, like  the  legs  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  image,  part  of  iron 
and  part  of  clay.  And  if,  subject  to  these  conditions,  the 
scattered  household  is  again  gathered  in  the  family  mansion, 
home  will  be  prized  more  highly,  and  its  inmates  loved  more 
tenderly,  than  before  the  separation.  With  most-disturbing 
issues  settled,  alienation  will  not  easily  ensue,  nor  secession  be 
repeated. 

Methodism  can  do,  and  should  do,  for  her  members  what  no 
other  Church  has  ever  done.  She  holds  a  scriptural  theology, 
and  teaches  a  saintly  experience.  Her  organic  law  sacredly 
guards  the  rights  of  the  humblest.  She  can  meet  the  highest 
educational  and  religious  wants  of  her  young  people,  distribute 
wisely  and  widely  her  ministerial  gifts,  and  supply  her  socie- 
ties with  the  cheapest,  if  not  the  choicest,  literature  in  the 
land.  She  may  recover  to  her  communion  most  who  have  left 
it  that  are  worth}'  to  re-enter,  and  she  may  enjo}^  frequent 
visitations  from  on  high.  Such  a  Church  would  be  the  noblest 
institution  upon  the  footstool ;  and  Methodism  may  attain  this 
eminence,  and  sustain  this  character.  And  when  she  does, 
there  will  be  little  temptation  to  leave  her  fellowship,  but  the 
strongest  inducement  to  enter  and  remain  in  it.  And  the  con- 
ditions are  very  simple.  They  contain  nothing  visional  nor 
impracticable.  Slight  modifications  of  economy,  and  simple 
changes  of  administration,  may  be  needed.  But  our  work  is 
rather  to  conserve  than  to  change,  to  expand  instead  of  to  in- 
novate. The  practical  working  of  the  system  for  a  century  has 
demonstrated  its  power  and  general  adaptation.  But  it  should 
be  amplified  to  such  dimensions  as  will  fit  it  for  the  field  it  is 
to  occupy,  the  age  in  which  it  is  to  work,  and  the  mission  it  is 
called  to  discharge.  As  to  men,  there  must  be  firmness  and 
fidelity  on  the  part  of  those  that  make  the  appointments,  and 
the  flexibility  that  comes  of  self-negation  in  the  case  of  those 
that  receive  them.  But  all  these  are  involved  in  personal  con- 
secration, imposed  by  ordination  vows,  and  inspired  by  the 
most  sacred  traditions  of  the  Church. 
U 


154  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

The  time  is  suggestive  of  stronger  devotion  and  of  higher 
advancement.  The  Church  is  closing  the  first,  and  entering 
upon  the  second,  grand  epoch  in  her  history.  The  past  has 
been  instructive,  the  future  will  be  eventful.  The  experience 
of  one  will  help  to  meet  the  emergencies  of  the  other.  And  as 
we  enter  upon  a  new  era,  let  the  device  upon  the  national  ban- 
ner —  vindicated  at  such  cost,  —  become  a  motto  of  the 
Church.     We  are  one. 

The  sanctions  are  weighty.  Under  the  tree  planted  by  our 
fathers  we  have  found  shelter  and  sustenance.  We  are  soon 
to  pass  from  beneath  its  shadow,  and  join  them  in  the  skies. 
Our  children  will  gather  here,  to  eat  of  its  fruit,  and  be  pro- 
tected by  its  branches.  May  they,  in  1966,  behold  its  off- 
shoots in  every  land,  and  all  sustaining  normal  relations  to  the 
central  trunk ! 

Rev.  Dr.  Barrows  read  the  following  Address  to  the 
Methodists  of  New  England,  w7hick  was  adopted :  — 

Though  this  Convention  is  somewhat  anomalous,  and  with- 
out precedent  in  our  denomination,  claiming  no  ecclesiastical 
authority,  yet  it  seems  proper  that  we  should  put  on  record  a 
few  declarations  which  animate  and  inspire  us  at  this  aus- 
picious moment. 

No  former  period  of  our  history  could  have  offered  such  a 
happy  combination  of  circumstances,  under  which  we  could 
have  assembled  to  take  counsel  together,  give  thanks  to  God, 
and  unite  ourselves  in  prayer  and  stronger  bonds  of  union  for 
our  great  and  ominous  future.  The  successful  war  to  crush  re- 
bellion and  treason  has  just  been  closed  ;  peace,  industry,  and 
thrift  have  returned  to  our  lately-distracted  and  bleeding 
country  ;  the  long  agony  of  spiritual  death,  which,  during  the 
war,  rested  like  a  moral  nightmare  on  the  Church,  is  now  hap- 
pily terminated.  Now,  life  and  spiritual  prosperity  have  re- 
turned to  the  Church  ;  the  singing  of  birds  has  come  ;  and  our 
Zion  is  rejoicing  in  the  songs  of  happy  converts  by  thousands. 
To  God  be  all  the  glory. 

Our  glorious  centenary  year  dawns  upon  us,  also,  while  we 


THE   ADDRESS.  155 

are  at  work  reconstructing  and  readjusting  our  government  to 
a  wholly  new  and  improved  state  of  tilings  in  this  nation. 

The  powerful  influence  of  Christianity  was  never  more 
obvious  in  our  country  than  now  ;  though  sin  is  strong  and 
bold,  and  iniquity  struggles  for  the  ascendancy  in  all  places, 
high  and  low,  it  is  everywhere  confronted  by  the  vital  energies 
of  gospel  truth,  now  so  generally  influencing  the  whole  people, 
and  especially  the  higher  and  more  educated  classes. 

We  recognize  the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  and  its  pure 
morality,  as  held  and  promulgated  by  all  truly  Christian 
churches,  not  only  as  constituting  the  basis  of  civil  liberty  and 
good  government,  but,  also,  as  the  powerful  reformatory 
agency,  now  separating  the  chaff  from  the  wheat,  opening  in 
our  national  history  a  new  epoch,  improving  our  government, 
bringing  it  into  harmony  with  Christianity;  so  that,  under  it, 
we  can  go  everywhere  and  preach  Christ. 

We  rejoice  that,  in  these  great  reforms  now  culminating,  our 
own  Church  has  awarded  to  her  a  leading  agenc}" —  the  only 
or  best  atonement  she  can  offer  for  her  wrong  in  years  past,  in 
stepping  over  these  sins  of  the  country,  while  she  had  it  in  her 
power  to  check  them. 

The  preaching  of  the  gospel  by  our  itinerant  ministry,  in  its 
simplieit}'  and  earnestness,  is  essentially  the  same  everywhere, 
which  God  has  greatly  honored,  in  the  salvation  of  souls,  and 
building  up  of  our  Zion.  And,  under  the  gracious  smiles  of 
Providence,  it  has  become  numerous,  wealthy,  and  influential, 
in  every  part  of  the  country  which  has  been  open  to  its  pure 
doctrines. 

But  we  especially  congratulate  our  New  England  Methodism 
in  its  early  and  successful  efforts  to  inaugurate  a  denomina- 
tional system  of  education.  It  is  pleasant  to  know  that  in  our 
own  New  England,  our  first  seminary,  university,  and  theo- 
logical seminary  were  projected  ;  and  have  till  now  worked 
vigorously  on,  —  stronger  to-day  than  ever  before.  If  we  are 
not,  in  New  England,  equal  to  some  other  portions  of  the 
Church,  in  wealth  and  numbers,  we  are  thankful  that,  from 
our  infancy,  we  have  been  able  to  send  forth  a  steady  stream 
of  educated  and  accomplished   men  and  women,  found  now 


156  METHODIST   CENTENABY   CONVENTION. 

almost  everywhere  in  our  ministry,  institutions  of  learning, 
and  in  the  learned  professions,  as  well  as  posts  of  honor  and 
trust.  Not  a  few  of  them  are  in  foreign  missionary  fields,  and 
others  are  authors  and  writers  of  no  little  distinction. 

In  periodical  literature,  and  first-class  writers,  we  think  New 
England  has  not  been  surpassed,  in  point  of  time  or  ability. 
While  we  rejoice,  most  of  all,  in  the  success  of  our  ministry  in 
leading  sinners  to  Christ,  and  building  up  believers  in  Chris- 
tian nurture,  to  a  state  of  Christian  experience,  somewhat  in 
advance  of  the  theories,  at  least,  of  sister  Churches,  resulting 
in  a  steady  and  permanent  growth  of  the  Church  at  home,  not- 
withstanding our  continued  contribution  of  numbers  and  learn- 
ing to  Western  churches,  we  feel  called  upon  especially  to  con- 
gratulate our  New  England  Church,  for  her  leading  influence  in 
all  those  moral  and  civil  reforms  now  ripening  into  maturity  in 
the  nation.  Not  man}T  persons  now  are  unwilling  to  be  recog- 
nized as  having  been  leaders  in  the  Temperance  and  Anti- 
Slaver}^  reforms,  and  the  general  purification  of  our  national 
politics,  and  in  restoring  the  government  to  all,  and  more  than 
it  had  lost,  of  its  original  purity.  Tardy  as  we  were  in  coming 
to  these  duties,  we  were  not  behind  any  portion  of  our  own,  or 
other  Churches. 

These  New  England  Conferences  were  in  advance,  even,  of 
these  New  England  States  (which  were  in  advance  of  all  other 
States),  in  putting  on  record  their  protest  against  intemperance 
and  slavery,  as  well  as  their  warning  against  the  decline  and 
dereliction  of  the  government  and  its  administration.  So  have 
the}r  been  among  the  first  to  sustain  the  government  against 
treason,  and  in  its  timely  overthrow  of  slavery,  and  slavery's 
rebellion,  as  well  as  in  clothing,  feeding,  and  instructing  the 
freedmen. 

Though  we  congratulate  ourselves  that  our  support  of  the 
missionary  cause,  and  other  Christian  charities,  has"  been 
regular  and  gi-oicing,  jet  we  acknowledge  that  in  amount  some 
other  portions  of  our  Church  far  exceed  us ;  and  we  do  and 
will  rejoice  that  they  are  doing  so  nobly,  regretting  that  we 
are  not  doing  as  much. 

The  fact  that  Methodism  was  introduced  into  these  New 


TIIE    ADDRESS.  157 

England  States  later  than  in  other  portions  of  the  country, 
and  after  oilier  and  older  denominations  had  become  strong, 
has  contributed  to  our  slow  though  permanent  growth. 

In  the  present  position  of  our  New  England  Church,  -while 
we  find  much  occasion  for  humiliation  and  reform,  there  is, 
also,  much  occasion  for  thanksgiving.  Providence  has 
strangely  led  and  prospered  our  way  ;  and  great  and  numerous 
have  been  the  blessings  which  have  come  to  us,  our  families, 
and  our  sister  churches,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Methodism. 

If,  with  the  few  means  of  success  at  our  command,  in  the 
past,  Clod  has  used  our  Church  in  New  England  for  such  great 
achievements,  what  responsibilities  will  he  hold  us  to  in  the 
future  !  With  our  efficient  Conference  seminaries,  oldest  uni- 
versity, and  theological  school,  in  our  whole  Church,  and  with 
the  oldest  weekly  journal,  —  all  thoroughly  manned,  and  vigor- 
ously sustained  (though  mostly  without  endowments),  —  what 
vast  amounts  of  usefulness  are  reasonably  expected  of  us ! 
Yet,  the  efficiency  of  all  these  means  for  good  depends  on  the 
Divine  blessing,  which  can  reasonably  be  hoped  for  only  when 
we  are  true  to  our  trusts  and  high  profession,  in  a  growing 
piety  and  holiness  in  the  Church.  Such  piety  can  be  main- 
tained only  by  undiminished  and  increasing  efforts  to  save 
souls  from  death,  and  bring  glory  to  God  by  spreading  scrip- 
tural holiness  over  these  lands. 

Looking  forward,  what  are  the  indications  of  Providence 
touching  our  future  work?  The  call  to-day  is  louder  than  ever 
for  an  earnest  and  holy  ministry,  lest  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  become  an  empty  and  idle  ceremony,  leaving  the 
churches  to  repose  on  a  dead  formality.  That  spiritual  and 
powerful  ministers  are  now  being  raised  up  in  other  churches, 
winning  souls  with  marked  success,  is  occasion  for  rejoicing ; 
but  it  has  not  excused  the  Methodist  ministry,  nor  changed  its 
call.  Never  was  there  a  greater  demand  for  deeply  spiritual 
and  holy  churches,  for  their  prospective  work.  The  future  of 
the  whole  Church,  and  of  the  country,  under  God,  is  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  masses  of  good  people.  The  administration  of 
the  government,  and  all  its  officers,  from  the  President  down 


158  METHODIST   CEXTEXAEY   CONVENTION. 

to  the  common-school  teacher,  are  to  take  shape  and  character 
from  the  people !  The  voice  of  the  people  prevailed  on  the 
battle-field  ;  so  it  will  in  reconstruction.  If  the  people  are  true 
to  God,  humanity,  and  universal  freedom,  such  unalloyed 
patriotism  and  religion  will  soon  become  crystalized  with  the 
permanent  forms  of  our  government.  Then  no  root  of  bitter- 
ness will  be  implanted,  as  when  the  Constitution  was  framed, 
to  spring  up  and  bring  forth  its  legitimate  fruit  after  three 
fourths  of  a  century,  and  again  deluge  the  land  with  blood. 
God  spake  to  nations,  as  well  as  persons,  when  he  said,  "  The 
soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die." 

That  popular  sentiment,  first  prevalent  in  New  England,  and 
only  lately  local  here,  —  universal  freedom,  —  is  now  national! 
But  this  offspring  of  ours  needs  further  parental  care,  or  poli- 
ticians will  slaughter  it  in  reconstruction  I  But  if  our  noble 
Congress  is  sustained  by  an  equally  noble  people,  it  is  safe. 

Standing,  as  we  do  just  now,  on  the  boundaiy-line  between 
the  first  and  second  century  of  our  denominational  history, 
clergymen  and  laymen  in  Christian  counsel,  as  never  before, 
the  legitimate  representatives  of  all  New  England  Methodism, 
let  us  in  conclusion,  briefly  glance  at  a  few  points  claiming 
special  attention  in  our  future  :  — 

1.  Our  home  missionary  or  evangelization  work.  Such  as 
pressing  into  all  destitute  communities ;  organizing  Sabbath- 
schools,  and  establishing  lecture  appointments ;  and  founding 
new  societies,  calling  to  our  aid  the  vast  talent  and  piety  of 
local  preachers  and  laymen  ;  vigorously  sustaining  class  and 
prayer-meetings  in  all  possible  places,  as  the  only  means  of 
spiritual  growth  among  ourselves,  and  of  saving  the  lost. 

2.  The  present  great  Temperance  movement  claims  our  atten- 
tion. Almost  the  whole  Christian  Church  seems  to  have  be- 
come aroused  of  late  to  the  truth,  that  the  temperance  work  is 
the  regular  ivork  of  the  Church;  the  Church  is  a  temperance 
society,  and  the  ministers  are  temperance  agents  and  lecturers. 
This  cause  should  have  its  place  side  by  side  with  the  mission- 
ary and  Bible  cause,  for  regular  attention  and  contribution,  or 
we  lose  what  we  gain  in  our  spasmodic  efforts.  We  must  give 
the   people  more   preaching   and    reading    on    this    subject, 


RESORT   ON   STATISTICS.  159 

especially  our  youth.  Never  before  were  there  such  prospects 
lor  success  in  this  cause. 

o.  Increased  attention  is  due  all  our  regular  religion*  clari- 
ties. Let  these  —  all  of  them  —  come  before  our  people  — 
all  of  our  people  —  every  year,  with  proper  presentation. 
Regularity  and  sysU  m  is  what  we  most  need  here  ;  so,  if  pos- 
sible, all  our  people  shall  regularly  give  something  to  all  of 
them,  be  it  little  or  much.  Let  everybody  look  after  it!  Then 
our  churches  are  a  living  power.  The  increasing  demands  at 
home  and  abroad,  North  and  South,  on  our  Missionary  and 
Church-extension  Society,  especially  require  this. 

4.  Our  literary  institutions  stand  to-day  at  our  doors,  with 
outstretched  hands,  with  a  bewildering  amount  of  responsible 
work  to  do,  with  over-taxed  teachers,  and  poorly  compensated, 
—  more  poorly  than  the  pastors.  We  have  located  institu- 
tions, and  erected  buildings,  liberally,  but  have  endowed  next 
to  none.  Hence  our  difficulty  to  sustain  our  own  schools,  un- 
endowed, by  the  side  of  those  which  are  endowed.  This  cen- 
tenary }*ear  must  bring  relief  to  these  institutions,  or  the}*  are 
doomed  to  go  gradually  into  the  shade.  While  some  of  our 
people  show  the  most  princely  liberality  toward  our  schools, 
the  masses  of  them  are  less  informed  and  less  liberal  on  this 
subject  than  on  other  charities.  The  fault,  however,  is  largely 
with  the  ministers,  in  not  presenting  often  and  fully  the  great 
work  they  are  doing  for  the  Church  and  the  country,  with  their 
limited  means  and  pressing  wants.  Give  the  people  the  in- 
formation, and  they  will  do  their  duty. 

Rev.  D.  Dorchester,  of  the  New  England  Conference, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Statistics,  made  the  follow- 
ing report,  which  was  adopted :  — 

The  task  which  your  Committee  have  undertaken  to  per- 
form has  been  one  of  great  difficulty  and  labor,  but  we  have 
patiently  toiled  on,  and  now  submit  the  results  of  our  investi- 
gations. A  great  variety  of  statistical*  tables  has  been  pre- 
pared, but  it  is  not  our  intention  to  take  the  time  of  the  Con- 

*  See  the  end  of  the  Report. 


160  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONTENTION. 

vention  in  reading  them.  We  shall  present  only  the  results, 
and  some  of  the  inferences,  in  as  brief  a  manner  as  possible, 
without  extended  comments. 

Your  Committee  have  confined  their  investigations  to  Meth- 
odism in  New  England,  including  all  the  societies  within  the 
bounds  of  every  Conference  of  eveiy  New  England  State  ;* 
and  have  labored  to  present, 

First,  — Its  present  numerical  condition  ;  and, 

Secondly,  —  Its  relative  position:  1st,  to  the  past;  2d,  to 
the  population  ;  and  3d,  to  other  denominations. 

Firstly.  Its  present  numerical  condition.  According  to  the 
returns  this  spring,f  we  find  within  the  bounds  of  the  New 
England  States,  103,472  Methodists,  including  members,. pro- 
bationers, and  local  preachers. 

There  are,  also,  100,231  Sunday-school  scholars,  and  347,085 
volumes  in  the  Sunda}T-school  libraries  ;  being  an  average  of 
about  one  scholar  for  each  church  member,  and  3f  volumes  to 
each  scholar.  The  largest  average  number  of  volumes  to  each 
scholar  is  in  the  States  of  Ehode  Island  and  Connecticut, 
where  there  are  4TV  volumes  to  each  scholar.  The  largest 
proportion  of  Sunday-school  scholars  to  each  church  member  is 
in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island. 

The  latest  returns  show  that  the  Methodists  of  New  England 
hold  892  churches  and  432  parsonages,  valued  at  $4,402,660, 
or  $42.55  to  each  member.  The  largest  average  church  prop- 
erty to  each  member  is  in  Rhode  Island,  where  it  reaches  the 
sum  of  §80.88. 

There  are,  also,  13  educational  institutions  in  New  England, 
under  the  influence  and  patronage  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  having  113  instructors,  3,368  pupils,  and  $672,261 
worth  of  propeily,  and  30,000  volumes  in  libraries.  This 
large  sum  of  church  property,  of  $5,074,921,  has  been  accumu- 
lated within  a  very  few  }*ears, —  less  than  fifty  }'ears,  and  most 
of  it  in  less  than  twenty-five  j'ears. 

We  will  next  consider  our  position, 

*  See  Table  I. 

t  A  few  slight  changes  have  been  made  in  the  figures,  as  given  in  the  Con- 
vention, and  more  definite  statements  are  given  in  a  few  instances,  more 
perfect  data  having  been  received.  D.  D. 


RErORT    OX   STATISTICS.  161 

Second.     Relatively. 

1.  To  the  past.  A  comparison  of  18GG  with  18C0  shows 
that  we  have  about  maintained  our  numbers.  The  returns  of 
18G5  showed  a  falling  otf,  sinee  1-sOO,  of  518  members.  This, 
however,  is  smaller  than  the  decrease  of  other  denominations  ; 
the  Congregationalists  having  diminished,  during  the  same 
period,  1,714,  and  the  Baptists  3,198  ;  in  both  cases  a  larger 
per-eentage,  even,  of  decrease  than  ours.  No  time  need  be 
spent  in  accounting  for  this  state  of  things.  It  is  patent  to  all 
as  the  result  of  the  distraction  of  the  public  mind  by  the  ex- 
citement of  our  late  civil  war.  Since  one  year  ago,  however, 
we  have  nearly  recovered  our  loss,  which  is  also  probably  true 
of  the  other  denominations. 

But,  during  this  period,  every  other  interest  has  advanced. 
The  number  of  Sunda3'-school  scholars  has  increased  about 
13,004,  and  the  volumes  in  the  Sunday-school  libraries  about 
37,993,  and  the  church  property  nearly  $1,000,000,  or  about 
5S  churches  and  50  parsonages.  And  yet,  maj^  we  not  proper- 
ly suggest  that  an  increase  of  only  185  members  during  the 
last  year  in  all  New  England,  not  quite  making  up  for  our  loss 
from  I860  to  1865,  is  a  very  small  advance  for  us  to  make.  In 
several  New  England  Conferences  there  has  been  a  decline, 
even  during  the  past  year.  Certainly  we  have  abundant  reason 
for  humiliation  before  God,  and  earnest  prayer  for  the  outpour- 
ing of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  our  Zion. 

But  we  turn  for  a  moment  to  a  more  remote  past.  Jesse 
Lee,  the  apostle  of  New  England  Methodism,  commenced  his 
labors  within  our  bounds  in  the  year  1789.  In  the  year  1800, 
there  were  5,829  Methodists  reported  within  the  New  England 
States.  Now  there  are  103,472,  or  an  increase  of  eighteen 
fold.  A  careful  examination  of  a  table  which  we  have  pre- 
pared will  show  that  there  has  been  no  decade  since  that  time 
in  which  we  have  actually  decreased  ;  although  the  ratio  of  in- 
crease has  been  smaller  since  1840  than  before.  From  1820 
to  1840,  our  increase  was  about  9  per  cent,  annually  ;  but  from 
1840  to  18G0,  it  was  only  1^-  percent.,,  or  only  one  sixth  as 
great.  This,  however,  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that 
the  proportion  of  the  population  to  the  Methodists  is  smaller. 


162  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

We  have  a  smaller  non-Methodistic  population  to  operate  upon. 
From  1820  to  1840,  there  was  one  Methodist  to  57  inhabitants  ; 
since  1840,  about  one  for  27  inhabitants.  Hence,  a  less  rapid 
growth  may  be  expected.  And  this  is  a  tendency  in  all  bodies 
as  they  grow  larger.  Besides,  from  1840  to  1850  was  a  period 
of  unusual  trial  in  our  ecclesiastical  history.  The  causes  were 
these  :  the  reaction  and  deadness  wThich  followed  the  Millerite 
excitement,  the  losses  by  the  Weslej^an  secession,  and  the  vio- 
lent controversies  connected  with  the  secession  of  the  Church 
South,  occupying  the  attention  of  the  Church,  and  filling  our 
religious  newspapers  for  several  years. 

But,  during  the  decade  prior  to  our  late  civil  war,  we  had 
measurably  recovered,  having  a  rate  of  progress  of  2£fper 
cent,  annually,  instead  of  h  per  cent,  annually,  as  from  1840 
to  1850. 

2.  We  come  next  to  consider  the  growth  of  Methodism  rel- 
atively to  the  population. 

In  the  year  1800  there  was  only  one  Methodist  for  211  in- 
habitants in  New  England.  In  1830  there  was  one  for  44 
inhabitants.  Now  there  is  one  for  31  inhabitants.  The  New 
England  State  in  which  we  are  the  most  numerous  in  propor- 
tion to  the  population/' is  Vermont,  where  there  is  one  Meth- 
odist for  20  inhabitants.  The  State  in  which  we  are  the  least 
numerous  in  proportion  to  the  population,  is  Rhode  Island, 
where  we  are  one  for  57  inhabitants. 

Through  every  successive  decade,  except  one,  we  have 
gained  upon  the  population,  and  that  was  from  1840  to  1850. 
During  this  period  our  progress  was  only  5  per  cent.,  while  the 
population  increased  22  per  cent.  Connecticut  is  the  only 
New  England  State  where,  during  the  reaction  from  1840  to 
1850,  our  numbers  kept  in  advance  of  the  growth  of  the  popu- 
lation. But,  since  then,  we  have  measurably  recovered  our 
momentum  throughout  New  England,  and  from  1850  to  1860 
we  increased  22  per  cent.,  while  the  population  increased  only 
14  per  cent. 

This  fact  will  be  seen  to  be  worthy  of  special  notice  when 
we  consider  that,  during  this  period,  we  have  realized  a  very 
large  increase  of  foreign  population.     In  1850,  our  foreign- 


REPORT   ON   STATISTICS.  163 

born  citizens  were  }  of  New  England  population.  In  1860,  in 
these  New  England  States,  they  had  become  &  of  the  whole 
number;  having  increased  52  per  cent.     In  Massachusetts  and 

Rhode  Island,  from  1850  to  18G0,  the  foreign-born  population 
increased  oS  per  cent.,  while  the  whole  population  increased 
only  28  per  cent.,  or  less  than  one  half  as  fast.  And  yet, 
even  during  this  period,  with  this  rapidly  increasing  heteroge- 
neous element  in  our  midst,  in  these  two  States,  Methodism 
has  increased  33  per  cent.,  or  9  per  cent  faster  than  the  popu- 
lation. 

In  these  calculations  we  have  made  no  account  of  the  chil- 
dren of  our  foreign-born  citizens,  which,  according  to  a  recent 
census,  have  been  found  to  be  about  f-  as  many  more. 

3.  Relatively  to  other  denominations.  We  would  make  n,o 
invidious  comparisons.  Our  object  is  to  understand  our  rel- 
ative position  in  the  sisterhood  of  churches,  and  be  led  to 
comprehend  more  fulty  our  responsibilities.  We  have  been 
unable  to  obtain  the  statistics  of-  other  denominations,  with 
few  exceptions,  of  an  earlier  elate  than  1840.  We  shall  confine 
ourselves  to  the  statistics  of  the  Congregational  and  Baptist 
Churches  in  New  England,  as  they  most  nearly  compare  with 
us  in  numbers.  Our  figures  have  been  taken  from  their  own 
published  minutes. 

From  1840  to  1850  these  two  bodies,  like  ourselves,  fell  be- 
hind the  growth  of  the  population  —  probably  from  similar 
causes.  But  from  1850  to  18G0,  while  the  population  increased 
14  per  cent.,  the  Baptists  increased  only  10  per  cent.,  the  Con- 
gregationalists 18  per  cent.,  and  the  Methodists  22  per  cent., 
our  own  Church  far  outrunning  all  the  others,  and  the  popula- 
tion also,  in  rate  of  progress.  And  from  18G0  to  1865,  while 
the  Congregationalists  decreased  4,714,  and  the  Baptists  3,198, 
the  Methodists  decreased  518,  which  is  a  smaller  per  cent. 

It  should,  however,  be  added,  that  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  New  England  has  increased  in  a  larger  ratio,  during 
the  past  twenty-five  years,  than  even  our  own,  although  even 
now  its  numbers  are  only  one-third  as  many  as  ours. 

Methodism  is  now  the  second  denomination  in  point  of  num- 
bers in  New  England.     The  Congregationalists  largely  excel 


164  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

us  ;  and,  fifteen  years  ago,  the  Baptists  were  6.247  more  than 
we.  In  1865  we  were  5,944  more  than  the  Baptists.  Con 
sidered  by  States,  in  Maine  the  Methodists  are  the  first  de- 
nomination in  point  of  numbers,  in  New  Hampshire  the 
second,  in  Vermont  the  second,  in  Massachusetts  the  third,  in 
Rhode  Island  the  fourth,  and  in  Connecticut  the  second. 

We  have  also  prepared  a  table  to  show  the  comparative 
progress  of  Methodism  in  cities  and  the  rural  districts.  Taking 
the  State  of  Massachusetts,  because  the  necessaiy  data  can  be 
more  accurately  obtained,  and  deducting  the  population  of  the 
cities  or  places  of  10,000  inhabitants  and  upwards,  we  divide 
the  State  into  two  parts  —  the  cities  and  the  rural  towns.  The 
results  of  the  investigation,  extending  back  over  the  period  of 
twenty-five  }Tears,  show  that  Methodism  and  Congregational- 
ism both  have  increased  more  rapidly  in  the  cities  than  in  the 
country,  and  that  Methodism  has  ever  grown  relatively  with 
the  more  rapidly  increasing  population.  The  cities  are,  there- 
fore, most  important  fields  of  labor,  because  their  population 
is  growing  more  rapidly,  and  because  the  probabilities  of  suc- 
cess are  greater  than  in  the  rural  towns. 

Your  Committee  have  also  had  their  attention  called  to  the 
number  of  places  left  "  to  be  supplied  "  during  the  last  sixteen 
years  in  New  England.  These  are  places  usually  supplied  by 
local  preachers,  under  the  Presiding  Elder. 

In  1850  there  were  84  charges  left  to  be  supplied.  In 
18G6  there  are  184.  This  seems  very  alarming.  But  as 
the  number  of  the  stations  or  appointments  has  increased 
during  the  same  period  179,  we  have  reduced  the  tables  to  a 
per  centage,  which  shows  the  relative  amount  of  ministerial 
supply.  In  1850,  14  per  cent,  of  the  appointments  were  left 
to  be  supplied.  In  1866,  there  were  24  percent,  left  to  be  sup- 
plied, or  £  of  the  whole.  Now  we  might  endeavor  to  content 
ourselves  with  the  reflection  that,  in  this  regard,  we  are  as  well 
off  as  other  denominations,  36  per  cent,  of  the  Congregational, 
and  25  per  cent,  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  Massachusetts 
being  without  settled  ministers.  The  "  stated  supplies "  of 
those  denominations  correspond  to  our  supplies  bj-  local 
preachers  under  the  Presiding  Elder.     But  this  ought  not  to 


REPORT    OX    STATISTICS.  1G5 

satisfy  us,  whose  boast  it  often  is  that  our  itinerant  system  is 
peculiarly  adapted  to  nourish  weak  places,  and  especially  to 
famish  a  permanent  pastoral  supply.  Let  us,  therefore,  raise 
our  hearts  in  prayer  that  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  may  send 
forth  more  laborers  into  his  vineyard,  and,  at  the  same  time,  let 
us  stimulate  the  churches  to  bestow  salaries  which  shall  better 
compare  with  the  increased  expenses  of  the  tin 

The  statistics  of  ministerial  support  have  also  engaged  our 
attention,  and  we  find  that  the  average  salaries  of  all  the  places 
in  the  New  England  Conferences  reporting  in  1860  was  $4G8. 
In  18GG  the  average  salary  was  SG10,  or  an  average  increase 
of  only  30  per  cent,  in  six  years,  while,  according  to  careful 
calculations,  the  expense  of  living  has  advanced  12G  per  cent. 
The  largest  per  centage  of  increase  in.  salaries  is  in  the  Provi- 
dence Conference,  or  3G  per  cent.  The  East  Maine  stands 
next,  and  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  has  advanced  only 
13  per  cent. 

Another  topic  is  our  Benevolent  Contributions.  The  sums 
reported  in  the  Minutes  of  the  six  New  England  Conferences 
this  spring  amount  to  $92,9G9.85.  This  sum  does  not  embrace 
ordinary  home  charity  nor  special  donations.  This  is  an  in- 
crease of  $G0,1G1.39  over  the  amount  raised  in  1860,  or  an 
increase  of  18-4  per  cent.  Thus  it  is  seen  that  our  benevolent 
collections  have  advanced  six  times  as  much  as  our  salaries ; 
which  fact  is  pregnant  with  suggestions,  and  especially  indi- 
cates the  self-sacrificing  spirit  of  the  Methodist  preachers  in 
New  England,  through  whose  active  influence  this  advance  in 
these  collections  has  been  made,  while  suffering  from  the  scan- 
tiness of  their  own  support.  The  East  Maine  Conference  has 
the  largest  percentage  of  increase,  it  being  252  per  cent,  ad- 
vance. The  Maine  Conference  stands  next,  and  the  Provi- 
dence Conference  is  the  lowest  in  its  rate  of  increase. 

At  this  point  I  had  intended  to  close  this  report,  but,  at  the 
suggestion  of  other  members  of  the  Committee,  I  have  con- 
cluded to  add  the  results  of  a  few  other  tables  which  I  had 
prepared.  You  will  be  anxious  to  know  whether  the  "  Hub," 
of  which  we  have  heard  so  much  during  this  Convention,  is 
sound  —  what  are  our  relative  condition  and  prospects  in  Los- 


166  METHODIST   CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

ton,  the  centre  of  New  England  influence  ;  for,  as  goes  Boston, 
so  goes  New  England. 

A  carefully  prepared  table,  embracing  the  numbers  of  the 
Congregational,  Baptist,  and  Methodist  Churches  of  Boston  in 
1850,  1860,  and  1865,  shows  the  following  results,  comparing 
1850  with  1865:  — 

Increase  of  population   ....  40  per  cent. 
"       "  Congregationalists        .         .  7    "    .  " 

"       "  Baptists        .         .         .         .  12     "       " 

"       "  Methodists  .         .         .         .  43     "       " 

But  it  is  said  to  be  unfair  to  take  the  city  only,  inasmuch  as 
within  the  last  fifteen  years  a  large  number  of  the  members  of 
all  denominations,  doing  business  in  the  city,  have  moved 
with  their  families  out  into  the  adjacent  towns.  To  meet  this 
point  another  table  has  been  prepared,  embracing  the  member- 
ship of  those  denominations  in  Boston  and  the  suburban  towns 
within  a  definite  radius,  and  the  population  of  those  towns  in 
1850  and  1865.     The  following  are  the  results  :  — 


Increase  of  the  population 

58  per  cent, 

"         "        Congregationalists 

39     "       " 

"         "        Baptists 

29     "       " 

"         "        Methodists    . 

68     "       " 

SUMMARY. 

1.  Methodism  compared  with  the  Baptists. 

Boston. 

Increase  of  Baptists  from  1850  to  1865, 
"       ««  Methodists  "  ■« 

Boston  and  vicinity. 
Increase  of  Baptists  from  1850  to  1865, 
"       "  Methodists  ■«  " 

Massachusetts. 
Increase  of  Baptists  from  1850  to  1865, 
"       "  Methodists     »«  +* 


12 

per 

cent, 

43 

a 

(< 

29 

per 

cent. 

68 

u 

(« 

14 

per 

cent. 

36 

" 

a 

REPORT   ON    STATISTICS.  162 

New  England. 
Increase  of  Baptists  from  1850  to  1865,         .  7  per  cent. 

"       "  Methodists     "  "  .         22    "       u 

2.  Methodism  compared  with  Congregationalists. 

Boston. 

Increase  of  Congregationalists  from  1850  to  1865,    7  per  cent. 

"       "  Methodists  u  "  43  "       " 

Boston  and  vicinity. 

Increase  of  Congregationalists  from  1850  to  1865,  39  per  cent. 

"       "  Methodists  "  "  68  "       " 

Massachusetts. 

Increase  of  Congregationalists  from  1850  to  1865,  16  per  cent. 

"       "  Methodists  "  "  36  "       " 

New  England. 

Increase  of  Congregationalists  from  1850  to  1865,  15  per  cent. 

u       "  Methodists  "  u  22  "       u 

3.  Methodism  compared  with  the  population. 

Boston. 
Increase  of  population  from  1850  to  1865,     . 
"       "  Methodists     "  " 

Boston  and  vicinity. 
Increase  of  population  from  1850  to  1865,     . 
"       "  Methodists     "  " 

Massachusetts. 
Increase  of  population  from  1850  to  1865,     . 
"       "  Methodists     "  " 

New  England. 
Increase  of  population  from  1850  to  I860,*  . 
•«       "  Methodists     "  " 

In  conclusion,  "  May  the  Lord  God  of  our  fathers  make  ns 
a  thousand  times  as  many  more  as  we  are,  and  bless  us  accord- 
ing as  he  has  promised."     "  And  let  all  the  people  say,  Amen." 

*  No  census  later  for  all  the  States. 


40  per 

cent. 

43    " 

i« 

58  per 

cent. 

68    " 

t( 

27  per 

cent. 

36    " 

i« 

14  per 

cent. 

23    " 

i« 

168 


METHODIST   CENTENAEY   CONVENTION. 


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REPORT   ON    STATISTICS. 


171 


Table   IV.  —  Averages.  —  18GG. 


Conferences. 


S.  S.  Scholars 
to  each  church 
member. 


Maine 

lvist  Maine 

New  Hampshire 

Vermont 

New  England 

Providence 

Part  of  Troy 

"    "  New  York 

"  "  New  York,  East 
German  Missions 

States. 

Maine 

New  Hampshire 

Vermont 

Massachusetts 

Rhode  [aland 

Connecticut 

Total  average.. 


Vols,  in  Libra- 
ries  to  each 

B.  S.  Scholar. 


0.80- 
0.72- 
0.98- 

1.00- 

1.11- 

1.11- 

0.96- 
0.80- 

0.78 
1.75- 


3.5+ 
3.6-- 
3.1-- 
3.5-- 
2.9-- 
3  9-- 
2.7— 
4.3— 
4.1-- 
1.9- - 


Church  pro- 
perty to  each 
member. 


525  78- 
23  93+ 
28  10- 
30  97- 
66  96 — 
55  37-- 
30  90-- 
34  86-- 
46  80+ 
17  i 


0.764- 

0.98 — 

1.01- 

1.14- 

1.29+ 

0.82- 


0.97 


3.5- 
3.2- 
3.5- 

3.14- 

4. 

4.1+ 


3.4+ 


24  91- 

26  57- 
31  62- 
59  47- 
80  88 
45  94+ 


$'42  55+ 


NOTK.—  [n our  entire  church  in  this  country,  the  ratio  of  S.  8.  Scholars  to  the  mem- 
bers and  probationers  is  .98+.  In  the  entire  church,  the  average  of  church  property 
to  each  member  and  probationer  is  §33.63. 


Table  V. — Financial   Exhibit. 


Conferences. 

Average  Salaries 
of  Pastors.* 

Benevolent  Collections.! 

1860. 

1866. 

Increase. 

I860. 

1866.        |  Increase. 

1 

$363 
376 
439 
387 
629 
481 

$486 

491 
500 
462 
809 
653 

.27p.ct. 
.30    " 
.13    " 
.19    " 

.28    " 
.36    " 

$3,599  76 
1,539  55 
3,394  48 
2,361  63 

14,615  11 
7,291  61 

$10,692  44  i  1.97  p.  ct. 

East   Maine 

New  Hampshire. 

Vermont 

New  England. . . 
Providence 

5,423  69      2.52     " 

9,209  77      1.71     " 

10,756  31    J3.55     " 

38,866  26      1.65     " 

18,016  38  I  1.47     " 

Total 

$468 

$610 

.30    " 

$32,802  46 

$92,964  85 

1.84    " 

*  In  some  instances  a  part  of  a  year's  salary  has  been  reckoned  as  a  whole  year's 
salary,  it  being  impracticable  to  ascertain  in  all  cases.  Each  sum  reported  has  been 
considered  as  one  salary. 

t  Local  and  occasional  charities  have  not  been  included  in  this  table,  but  only  regu- 
lar collections. 

t  This  large  increase  is  in  part  owing  to  the  addition  of  a  part  of  the  Troy  Confer- 
ence since  the  returns  of  1SU0  were  made. 


172 


METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 


Table  VI.  —  Membership  in  1865.* 


Conferences. 


Maine 

East  Maine • 

New  Hampshire 

Vermont 

New  England 

Providence 

Part  of  Troy 

"     "  New  York 

"  "  New  York,  East. 
German  Missions 

Total 


States. 

Maine 

New  Hampshire 

Vermont 

Massachusetts 

Rhode  Island 

Connecticut 

Total 


Members. 


10,303 

8,715 

10,577 

11,777 

17,895 

14,353 

2,121 

1,368 

11,645 

153 


88,907 


19,018 
9,556 

12,650 

27,733 
3,012 

16,938 


88,907 


Proba- 
tioners. 


1,710 

1,907 

2,550 

1,454 

2,081 

1,573 

181 

127 

1,123 

28 


12,734 


3,617 
2,387 
1,575 
3,242 
197 
1,716 


12,734 


83 
79 
93 
89 
101 
87 
11 

4 
88 

1 


636 


162 
81 
94 

160 
15 

124 


636 


Total. 


12,096 

10,701 

13,220 

13,320 

20,077 

16,013 

2,313 

1,499 

12,856 

182 


102,277 


22,797 
12,024 
14,319 
31,135 
3,224 
18,778 


102,277 


*  This  table  was  prepared  for  the  purpose  of  a  comparison  with  other  denomina- 
tions, whose  statistics  for  1S66  have  not  been  collected. 


Table  VII.  —  A  Summary  of  Methodism   in  New  England.* 


Gain  per 

Gain  per. 

Year. 

Members,  t 

Population. 

a*s 

cent,  of 

cent,  of 

Members. 

population 

1800  . 

5,829 
16,518 

1,233,315 
1,471,891 

211 

1810.... 

89 

1.8S-] 

.19-] 

1820.... 

23,606 

1,662,808 

70 

.41- 

.06- 

1830 .... 

44,366 

1,954,717 

44 

.87- 

.17- 

1840.... 

80,895 

2,234,822 

27 

.81- 

.14- 

1850.... 

81,097 

2,728,116 

32 

.04- 

.22^ 

I860.... 

103,961 

3,135,283 

31 

.21- 

.14- 

1865  .. 

102,277 
103,472 

1866... 

*  Table  I.  will  show  the  territory  embraced  in  this  table. 

t  Tables  I.  and  II.  will  explain  who  are  comprised  under  the  term  members. 


REPORT    OX   STATISTICS. 


173 


Table  VIII.  —  Growth  of  Methodism  in  New  England,  by 
States,  1800  to  1866. 

Methodism  was  introduced  into  New  England  in  1789. 


.maim:.- 


Year. 


1800 
1810 
1820 
1830 
1840 

1S50 

18(30 

is,:, 
1866 


Members. 


1,197 

3,464 

6,017 

11,06*2 

22,359 

21,954 

24,066 
22,797 

22,962 


Population. 


151,719 
228,705 
298,335 
399,455 

501,793 

583,169 

628,279 


Inhabi- 
tants to 
each 

member. 


126 
63 
49 
36 
22 

27 
25 


Gain  percent. 

of 

members. 


Gain  per  cent. 

of 

population. 


1.89+ 
.73+ 

.33+ 

1.02+ 

Decreaee. 

1105 

.15+ 


.50+ 
.31-- 

.33-- 
.24-- 

!07+ 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


Year. 


1800. 
1810. 
1820 . 
1830. 
1840. 

1850. 
1860. 
1865. 

1866. 


Members. 


171 

1,953 

2,819 

5,485 

10,519 

8,911 
11,160 
12,024 
11,034 


Population. 


183,762 
214,360 
244,161 
269,328 

284,574 

317,976 
326,073 


Inhabi- 
tants to 

each 
member 


Gain  per  cent. 

of 

members. 


1,074 
115 

86 
49 
27 

35 

29 


10.42— 
.44— 
.94-- 
.91+ 
Decrease. 
1,618 
.25+ 


Gain  percent. 

of 

population. 


*See  reference  uuder  Table  I. 


VERMONT. 


Tear. 


1800. 
1810. 
1820. 
1830. 
1840. 

1850. 
1860. 
1865. 
1866 


Members. 


1,096 
4,607 
4,380 
9,796 
14,705 

13,906 
15,563 
14,319 
14,150 


Population. 


154,465 

217,713 
235,764 
280,652 

291,948 

314,120 
315,0y8 


tints  to  (-'ain  PeFcent-  Gain  PeJ  cent 


each 
member, 


141 
47 
53 
28 
19 

22 
20 


of 
members. 


3.20+ 

f227,  Dec. 

1.23+ 

.50+ 

Decrease. 

799 

.11+ 


of 

population. 


.39- 
.08- 
.18— 
.04-- 

.07+ 
.003+ 


t  Owing  to  changes  in  Circuit  lines  extending  into  other  States. 


174 


METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 


Table    VIII.  —  Continued. 


MASSACHUSETTS. 


Year. 


Members. 


Population. 


Inhabi- 
tants to 

each 
member. 


Gain  percent. 

of 

members. 


Gain  percent. 

of 

population. 


1800. 
1810. 
1820. 
1S30. 
1840 
1850. 
I860. 
1865. 
1866. 


1,567 

3,027 

4,828 

9,788 

18,843 

22,830 

30,367 

31,135 

32,542 


423,245 
47*,04Q 
523,287 
610,408 
737,699 
994,514 
231,066 


1,267,329 


270 

155 

108 

62 

39 

43 

40£ 

40  1-15 


.93- 

.58+ 
1.02- 
.90+ 
.21- 
.33+ 
.0252- 


.11+ 

.10-- 
.16-- 
.18— 
.34-- 

.23— 
.0294+ 


RHODE  ISLAND. 


Year. 

Members. 

Population. 

Inhabi- 
tants to 

Gain  percent, 
of 

Gain  per  cent, 
of 

member. 

members. 

population. 

1800 

227 
733 
942 

69,122 
77,031 
86,059 

304 

105 

91 

2.1*7+ 

.28+ 

1810   

.11+ 

1820 

.11+ 

1830 

1,338 

97,199 

72 

.42+ 

.12+ 

1840 

1,971 

108,830 

55 

.47+ 

.12+ 

1850 

2,444 

147,545 

60 

.24+ 

.35+ 

1860 

3,289 

174,620 

53 

.33+ 
Decrease. 

.14+ 

1865 

3,224 

184,953 

57 

65 

.05+ 

1866 

3,273 

•• 

CONNECTICUT. 


Year. 

Members. 

Population. 

Inhabi- 
tants to 

each 
member. 

159 
95 
59 
42 
26 
25 
24 

Gain  percent. 

of 

members. 

Gain  per  cent. 

of 

population. 

1800 

1,571 

2,734 

4,620 

6,947 

12,498 

14,754 

19,017 

18,778 
19,511 

251,002 
262.042 
275,202 
297,675 
309,978 
370,792 
460,147 

.74+ 
.68+ 
.50+ 
.72+ 
.18+ 
.27+ 
Decrease. 
239 
.039+ 

1810 

.004+ 

1820 

1830 

1840 

1850 

1860 

1865 

1866 

.05+ 
.08+ 
.04+ 
.22+ 
.24+ 

Note.  — The  Census  for  1865  has  been  taken  only  in  the  States  of  Massachusetts 
and  Rhode  Island. 


REPORT    ON    STATISTICS. 


175 


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178 


METHODIST  CENTENARY  CONVENTION. 


Table   XIII. — Ratio  of  Ministerial  Supplies  to  tiie  Number 
or   Stations,  or  Societies. 


Societies   left    "to    be    Supplied. 


Conferences. 


Maine 

East  Maine 

New  Hampshire 

Vermont 

New  England... 
Providence 

Total... 


1850. 


84 


1855. 


17 
16 
27 
10 
25 
35 


130 


1860. 


1865. 


121 


180 


1866. 


20 
30 
29 
35 

23 
47 


184 


Number  of  Stations,  or  Appointments. 


Maine 

East  Maine 

New  Hampshire. 
New  England . . . 

Vermont 

Providence 

Total... 


87 

88 

102 

103 

72 

83 

106 

91 

86 

95 

113 

109 

127 

144 

168 

161 

08 

63 

79 

*136 

126 

143 

141 

144 

566 

616 

709 

744 

106 
92 
108 
160 
136 
143 


745 


Per  cent,  of  Places  left  to  be  Supplied. 


Maine 

East   Maine 

New  Hampshire. 
New^jhn gland.. . 

Vermont 

Providence  

Total... 


.08+ 

.16- 

.14- 

.22-- 

.08-- 

.15- 


.14+ 


.19+ 

.19- 

.28+ 

.17- 

.15- 

.24- 


.21+ 


.07- 
.18- 
.18- 
.18- 
.16- 
.20- 


.17+ 


.21-- 
.26 — 
.27-- 

.14-- 

.27-- 

.28-- 


.24+ 


.18-r- 

.33— 

-.26-- 
.14-- 
.25-- 
.32-- 


.24+ 


ItErORT   ON    STATISTICS. 


17!) 


Table   XIV. —  Local  Preachers. 

Or    the    Prospective  Supply  of  the   Ministerial  Ranks. 


Conferences. 


Maine 

East  Maine 

New  Sampshire 

Vermont 

New  England 

Providence 

Total . . 


1850. 


457 


1860. 


99 

75 
103 

68 
110 

96 


551 


1865. 


542 


ISO'.. 


76 
77 
96 
85 
111 


531 


Table    XV.  —  Churches    of    Four   Denominations    which    are 
without  Settled  Pastors.  —  18G5. 


Denominations. 

Number  of 
Churches. 

Without 
settled 
Pastors. 

Percentage 
without 
settled 
Pastors. 

489 

264 

78 

745 

176 

67 

8 

184 

.36  per  ct 
.25       " 

.10        " 

.24        " 

For  explanation  see  Ueport. 


180 


METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 


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REMARKS    OX   THE    TABLES.  181 


REMARKS  ON  THE  TABLES. 


1.  Close  observers  will  notice  some  variations  from  the  re- 
port as  given  in  the  Convention.  This  is  in  consequence  of 
incomplete  data  at  that  time,  which  has  since  been  obtained, 
and  the  tables  thoroughly  revised. 

2.  Some  will  notice  some  discrepancies  in  comparing  some 
items  with  their  Conference  Minutes.  We  can  only  say,  we 
have  for  the  most  part  used  the  General  Minutes. 

3.  Great  pains  have  been  taken  to  have  every  item  impar- 
tially correct.  The  work  has  been  patiently  and  prayerfully 
performed,  under  a  conviction  that  it  was  the  duty  of  spiritual 
watchmen  to  scrutinize  the  condition  and  prospects  of  our 
Zion.  They  are  now  submitted  to  the  prayerful  consideration 
of  the  Church.  May  the  lessons  which  they  teach  be  duly 
heeded. 


182  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

After  singing  the  hymn, 

"There  is  a  fountain,"  etc., 

Bev.  Dr.  Patten,  of  the  Providence  Conference,  read  the 
following  Essay  on  "  What  ought  New  England  to  do  in 
the  Centenary  movement  ?  " :  — 

The  intent  of  the  question  doubtless  is,  What  ought  New 
England  Methodists  to  do? 

The  wisdom  and  piety  of  the  Church,  as  represented  in  the 
General  Conference,  has  already  answered  the  inquiry.  We 
may  not  pretend  to  be  wise  above  what  is  written.* 

1.  First,  then,  it  is  our  dut}T,  as  New  England  Methodists, 
to  render  perfect  our  consecration  to  God.  Without  this,  our 
expressions  of  gratitude  for  the  blessings  of  the  century  past 
will  be  but  an  empt}^  sound  —  a  solemn  mockery  ;  our  offerings 
of  gratitude  but  an  unmeaning  ceremony,  which,  though  they 
may  call  forth  the  approval  of  men,  will  not  win  the  approba- 
tion of  God. 

This  consecration  should  be  immediate,  unreserved,  and  pre- 
sented with  faith  in  Him  who  demands  the  offering,  and  "  merits 
all  our  love."  What  sight  on  earth  more  lovely  !  What,  that 
will  more  attract  the  attention  of  angels,  or  the  smile  of 
heaven,  than  that  of  a  favored  church  rejoicing  in  its  blessings, 
and  conscious  of  its  sacred  obligations,  intelligently  and  earn- 
estly yielding  itself  to  the  claims  of  God  !  If  this  reasonable 
consecration  is  withheld,  our  sacred  temples,  however  numer- 
ous and  costly,  will,  spiritually,  be  full  of  "  dead  men's  bones," 
and  these  "  very  dry ;  "  our  educational  institutions  will  be- 
come the  retreats  of  irreligion,  scepticism,  and  sin ;  our 
agencies  for  doing  good  be  shorn  of  their  strength ;  and  our 
beautiful  Zion,  despoiled  of  her  glory,  become  a  reproach 
among  the  churches. 

Who,  then,  in  view  of  the  momentous  interests  involved, 
will  not  hasten  to  "  present  himself  a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and 
acceptable,  unto  God?  " 

*  See  Report  of  the  General  Conference  of  1864  on  the  Centenary. 


KEY.  DE.  patten's  essay.  183 

2.  It  is  our  duty,  as  New  England  Methodists,  to  cultivate 
feelimjs  of  yratitade  ;  "  especially  by  reviewing  the  ureal  things 
God  hath  wrought  for  us  through  the  agency  of  Methodism." 

In  arging  this  duty,  the  General  Conference  recognizes  the 
fact  thai  feelings  of  gratitude  are  susceptible  of  cultivation, 
and  that  this  cultivation  comes  b}T  effort.  Hence  we  are  ad- 
monished t;  to  review  the  great  things  God  hath  wrought  for 
us."  This  simple  review  will  remind  us  of  our  indebtedness, 
and  stir  the  heart  with  grateful  emotions.  What  great  things, 
then,  hath  God  wrought  for  us?  Their  number  is  as  incalcu- 
lable, as  their  value  is  inconceivable.  The  "Wesleyan  Reforma- 
tion, through  whose  influence  the  spirit  of  piety  has  been 
revived  in  all  the  evangelical  churches,  and  millions  of  souls  now 
on  earth,  and  millions  in  heaven,  have  "been  brought  to  Christ, 
is  a  divine  work,  compared  with  which  the  subduing  of  a  nation, 
or  the  founding  of  a  kingdom,  is  as  "  dust  in  the  balance." 
The  providential  organization  of  this  Church,  with  its  sublime 
code  of  doctrines,  its  inimitable  polit}',  its  world-embracing 
itinerancy,  its  deep-toned  spiritualit}-  and  aggressive  polic}T,  is 
a  work  over  the  results  of  which  the  songs  of  the  redeemed 
will  never  cease.  The  recollection  of  our  own  conversion, 
through  the  ministry  of  Methodism,  must  awaken  emotions  too 
sacred  and  intense  for  expression  in  language.  But  I  will  not 
pause  to  unroll  the  grand  panorama  of  the  past.  The  faithful 
review  of  the  great  things  God  hath  done  for  our  fathers  and 
their  children  through  three  generations,  for  evangelical  Chris- 
tendom, and  the  benighted  nations,  will  enkindle  in  our  hearts 
grateful  affections  corresponding  in  some  measure,  at  least, 
with  our  high  and  ever-increasing  obligations. 

3.  As  the  gratitude  of  the  heart  ever  seeks  expression  in 
outward  acts,  it  is  our  duty,  as  New  England  Methodists,  to 
offer  to  Almighty  God,  "  each  according  as  God  hath  pros- 
pered him,"  pecuniary  contributions,  to  be  so  appropriated  as 
to  render  more  efficient  in  the  century  to  come,  those  institu- 
tions and  agencies  to  which  the  Church  has  been  so  deeply 
indebted  in  the  century  past. 

Mere  expressions  of  gratitude,  unembodied  in  overt  acts  of 
love,  will  not  only  be  unacceptable  to  God,  but  must  affect 


184  METHODIST   CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

unfavorably  our  moral  health.  We  are  so  constituted  that 
whenever  the  emotion  of  gratitude  is  excited,  there  springs  up 
a  corresponding  desire  to  gratify  this  feeling,  by  blessing  our 
benefactor,  or  those  around  us.  If  this  desire  is  gratified,  a 
joy  kindred  to  that  of  angels  swells  the  heart.  You  see  it  in 
the  beaming  e}Te,  the  radiant  smile  ;  }Tou  hear  it  in  the  out- 
burst of  deepest  satisfaction.  If  it  is  not  gratified,  an  influ- 
ence like  the  frosts  of  autumn  steals  upon  us.  Chilled  in  the 
heart  is  the  flow  of  jo}^  and  withered  the  sensibilities  of  our 
tender  nature.  These  neglects  repeated,  and  the  kindly  affec- 
tions are  soon  blighted  and  destroyed.  The  humiliating  result 
is,  that  he  who  should  stand  forth  in  the  Church  a  living  em- 
blem of  the  benevolence  of  the  Deit}-,  stands  forth  a  cold  and 
heartless  thing  —  a  moving  iceberg  in  the  bosom  of  society. 

Hence  the  General  Conference,  understanding  well  the  phil- 
osophy of  the  human  heart,  as  well  as  the  duties  growing  out 
of  our  social  and  public  relations,  urges  that  each  member  of 
the  Church  should  contribute  according  to  his  ability,  to  aid  in 
liberally  endowing  those  institutions  and  agencies  to  which  the 
Church  is  already  so  deeply  indebted,  and  without  which  she 
is  unfurnished  for  the  responsible  work  committed  to  her,  of 
enlightening  and  regenerating  the  nations. 

The  duty  of  the  Church  to  endow  and  patronize  our  literary 
institutions,  has  already  been  discussed  by  the  President  of  the 
Wesley  an  University. 

It  remains  for  me  simply  to  allude,  somewhat  in  language 
used  upon  another  occasion,  to  a  new  department  of  education, 
to  which  the  attention  of  the  Church  has  recently  been  called 
—  that  of  the  professional  education  of  the  rising  ministry.  New, 
did  I  say?  The  first  annual  Conference  in  England,  and  the 
first  in  this  country,  legislated  directly  for  this  object ;  and 
would  have  carried  out  their  wishes  but  for  providential  hin- 
drances. The  theological  schools  in  the  Wesleyan  Church  in 
England,  are  but  the  realization  of  Mr.  Wesley's  first  and 
cherished  conception.  Dr.  Fisk  earl}T  recorded  his  opinion 
that  theological  schools  are  not  only  desirable,  but  essential  to 
the  future  prosperity  of  Methodism.  Dr.  Olix,  in  a  letter 
from  Liverpool,  dated  1839,  says :  "  I  will  not  allow  this  op- 


REV.    DR.    PATTEN'S    ESSAY.  185 

portunity  to  pass  without  expressing  my  most  deliberate  con- 
viction that  the  establishment  of  theological  schools  is  indis- 
pensable  to   our    future   progress."      Bishop    HeddFNG    also 

publicly  recorded  his  belief  in  the  Methodistic  character  and 
denominational  need  of  such  schools,  by  accepting  the  Pres- 
idency of  the  one  organized  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  the  first-born 
of  an  increasing  family  of  such  institutions.  This  he  did  when 
many  looked  coldly  upon  the  enterprise.  A  few  violentry  op- 
posed it,  and  some  high  in  office  regarded  it  as  of  doubtful 
expediency.  He  nobby  showed  his  faith  by  his  works,  visiting 
the  school,  delivering  lectures  to  its  students,  and,  dying,  be- 
queathing to  it  liis  library  and  a  thousand  dollars  of  his  estate. 
All  honor  to  the  clear-headed,  large-hearted  Bishop,  to  whose 
varied  labors  American  Methodism  owes  so  much,  and  whose 
memory  will  ever  be  "  like  ointment  poured  forth." 

Schools  of  the  Prophets !  Does  the  Church  need  them  ?  This 
is  no  longer  an  open  question.  She  demands  in  her  pulpits, 
with  deep-toned  piety,  a  breadth  of  intelligence  and  culture 
equal,  at  least,  to  that  in  the  pulpits  of  sister  denominations. 
"Without  it  she  is  not  fully  armed  for  the  fearful  struggle  with 
infidelity,  anti-Christ,  and  sin.  Her  children  demand  it.  So 
do  the  myriads  who  receive  the  law  from  her  mouth  ;  and  the 
benighted  nations  for  whose  enlightenment  and  salvation  she  is 
responsible.  So  do  our  ascended  fathers.  So  does  the  God 
of  our  fathers.  And  it  requires  not  the  vision  of  a  far-seeing 
prophet  to  behold  the  day  when  "  lchabod  "  shall  be  written 
upon  her  walls,  and  the  withering  curse  of  Heaven  fall  upon 
her  altars  if  she  neglects  to  furnish  the  means  of  securing  it. 

Can  she,  with  wealth  flowing  into  her  coffers,  and  the  voice 
of  God  calling  to  duty,  consent  to  fall  behind  other  churches  in 
her  educational  enterprises  ?  Can  she  afford  to  lose  from  her 
communion  some  of  the  most  promising  of  her  sons?  Let  her 
disregard  this  plain  duty,  and,  as  the  history  of  the  past  pain- 
fully proves,  her  sons,  resorting  to  the  schools  of  other  denom- 
inations for  their  ministerial  education,  will,  too  many  of  them, 
and  by  the  workings  of  an  inevitable  law,  become  alienated 
from  her  fellowship,  and  be  found  employing  their  talent-  in 
the  service  of  those  who  befriended  them.  Can  she  —  1  ask  it 
13 


186  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

seriously,  and  as  a  lover  of  the  Church  —  can  she  afford  the 
sacrifice,  a  sacrifice  as  needless  as  it  is  humiliating  !  Can  she? 
Let  her  prayers  to  Almighty  God,  and  a  generous  portion  of 
her  centenary  thank-offerings  consecrated  to  this  sacred  work, 
forbid. 

Already  measures  are  initiated  for  the  adequate  endowment 
and  appropriate  building  up  of  a  "  school  of  the  prophets"  in 
Xew  England,  which  shall  afford  facilities  for  professional  cul- 
ture not  inferior  to  any  in  the  land.  Will  these  measures  be 
successful?  A}Te,  and  more  than  successful,  if  the  ministry 
and  laity,  through  the  patronizing  Conferences,  shall  respond 
to  the  generous  offers  of  such  princes  in  our  Israel  as  Lee 
Claflin,  and  Isaac  Eich,  whose  munificent  gifts  to  our  edu- 
cational institutions  will  embalm  them  in  the  warm  affections 
of  the  Church  through  coming  3-ears,  and  swell  their  rapture  in 
the  courts  of  heaven. 

What  enterprise  can  be  more  worthy  of  the  attention  of  the 
Church  this  centenaiy  }Tear?  What  can  lie  nearer  her  heart; 
or,  if  successful,  bring  upon  herself,  her  children,  or  the  world, 
richer  blessings?  What  mone}Ts,  brought  to  God,  can  be  bet- 
ter or  more  safety  invested,  yield  a  richer  dividend  of  good,  or 
be  an  occasion  of  purer  bliss,  when  from  heaven  the  donor 
shall  look  back  to  earth,  and  trace  the  results  of  any  little  he 
may  have  clone  for  the  world's  welfare  ?  What  can  bring  upon 
him  more  the  blessing  of  coming  generations,  or  the  smile  of 
God? 

Who,  then,  mrinister  or  layman,  parent  or  Sund.ay-school 
child,  will  not  hasten  to  present  his  mite  for  the  building  up  of 
our  cente?inial-connectional,  monumental  institution,  which 
shall  ever  remain  a  memorial  of  his  gratitude  to  God  for  "  the 
benefits  received  through  the  agency  of  Methodism,"  and  con- 
tribute "  to  render  more  efficient,  in  the  century  to  come,  those 
institutions  and  agencies  to  which  the  Church  has  been  so 
deeply  indebted  in  the  century  past." 

The  Essayist,  knowing  that  Bishop  Simpson  and  others 
were  expecting  to  speak  this  morning,  and  that  the  session 
was  now  far  advanced,  omitted  the  further  reading  of  his 


REV.    Dli.    PATTEN'S    ESSAY.  187 

paper,  and  closed  by  saying,  extemporaneously ,  that  be 
trusted,  while  other  objects  recommended  for  centenary 
benefactions  would  he  generously  remembered,  thai  thi8}  an 
object  in  which  the  Church  has  a  peculiar  interest,  and  up- 
on the  success  of  which  her  future  so  largely  depends, 
would  not  be  forgotten.  He  urged  that  each  member  of 
every  church  and  congregation  should  appropriate  a  por- 
tion of  his  centenary  offering  to  place  beyond  contingency 
the  success  of  this  enterprise  ;  that  each  child  in  every 
family,  and  each  member  in  every  Sabbath-school,  con- 
tribute enough  to  place  a  brick,  at  least,  in  the  rising  mon. 
ument.  By  this  simple  act  he  will  not  only  gratify  his 
benevolent  impulses,  and  cultivate  an  interest  in  the  great 
enterprises  of  the  Church,  but  will  grow  up  warmly  at- 
tached to  her  institutions,  aye,  feel  himself  identified  with 
them,  and,  other  things  being  equal,  will  the  more  early 
consecrate  his  heart  to  Christ.  Not  to  afford  him  this  op- 
portunity of  cultivating  his  religious  affections,  would  be 
unwise  and  unkind. 

He  reminded  the  Convention,  that  our  Wcsleyan  brethren 
in  England  distinguished  their  Centennial  Jubilee  by  en- 
dowing two  theological  schools,  which  have  each  year  sent 
forth  a  class  of  pious  and  educated  young  men,  who  have 
exerted  an  elevating  and  saving  influence  through  the 
pulpits  and  press  at  home,  and  swelled  the  ranks  of  those 
who  toil  in  heathen  lands.  He  earnestly  prayed  that  the 
New  England  Methodist  Church  may  render  her  centennial 
memorable,  by  liberally  endowing  and  generously  furnish- 
ing one  School  of  the  Prophets,  whose  influence,  during 
centuries  to  come,  should  be  more  deeply  and  widely  felt 
in  subduing  the  world  to  the  reign  of  Christ. 

Rev.  Dr.  Crooks,  Editor  of"  The  Methodist,"  New  York: 
—  Mr.  President  and  Brethren, —  J  have  been  asked  sev- 
eral times,  yesterday  and  to-day,  how  I  enjoy  this  gather- 
ing of  representative  men  of  New  England  Methodism, 
and  I  have  fallen  so  happily  into  the  spirit  of  the  Conven- 


188  METHODIST  CENTENARY  CONVENTION. 

tion,  that  I  said,  tins  morning,  I  was  very  sorry  that  I  was 
not  a  New  Englander  myself.  But  you  know  that  is  some- 
thing which  cannot  be  helped.  I  am  glad  to  say,  however, 
that,  if  not  a  New  Englander,  I  am,  in  my  Methodist  work, 
a  sort  of  second-cousin,  for  the  New  York  East  Conference 
has  the  pleasure  and  honor  of  cultivating  a  part  of  your 
New  England  soil,  and  your  own  University  is  within  our 
bounds.  Brethren,  you  can't  quite  take  from  us  New 
Yorkers  the  pleasure  and  satisfaction  of  contributing 
something,  at  least,  to  the  triumphs  of  New  England  Meth- 
odism. [Applause.]  We  will  share  in  them,  and  as  your 
eyes  kindle,  ours  kindle,  too.  As  your  hearts  glory,  ouri 
glory  with  them,  for  we  are  bound  with  that  same  common 
connectional  tie,  and  recognize  the  forces  and  obligations 
of  that  common  Methodism  whose  centenary  we  are  com- 
memorating this  year.- 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  being  present  in  company  with 
two  members  of  the  Central  Centenary  Committee,  Bros. 
Oliver  Hoyt,  and  C.  C.  North,  one  of  whom  addressed  you 
yesterday  afternoon.  The  Committee  are  here  to  repre- 
sent some  of  the  interests  which  are  in  their  keeping,  and 
to  speak  a  few  words  relative  to  the  connectional  cente- 
nary work.  It  gave  me  great  pleasure,  this  morning,  in 
looking  over  your  programme  of  topics,  to  observe  this 
one :  "  How  can  the  old  Connectional  Spirit  of  Methodism 
be  revived  and  perpetuated  ?  "  I  hailed  with  delight  and 
intense  satisfaction  the  thoughts  so  well  presented  to  you 
by  the  brother  whose  'duty  it  was  to  read  you  the  essay 
upon  this  theme.  I  could  not  help  remembering  that  your 
own  Jesse  Lee  came  from  Virginia,  the  gift  of  the  old  Bal- 
timore to  the  New  England  Conference.  As  I  stood  be- 
neath that  old  elm,  yesterday,  where  he  preached  his  first 
sermon  in  Boston,  and  sung,  with  you,  as  it  was  a  pleasure 
to  do,  one  of  the  grand  old  Methodist  hymns,  my  heart 
swelled  with  gratitude,  and  I  thought,  surely  the  fathers 
might  well  be  bending  over  us,  with  satisfaction  and  joy, 
from  their  seats  in  heaven. 


DISCUSSION   ON   DR.    TATTEX'S    ESSAY.  180 

And  now,  Bir,  how  can  we  revive  and  perpetuate  the  old 
connectional  spirit?  Is  there  any  other  answer  to  the 
question  than  this  :  We  can  best  perpetuate  the  connec- 
tional spirit  by  entering  into  connectional  work  ;  by  car- 
rying forward  connectional  enterprises;  by  strengthening 
the  connectional  bond,  and  making  all  Methodists  feel  that, 
while  they  belong  to  New  England,  the  West,  the  Centre, 
or  the  Border,  they  are  still,  by  the  power  of  Methodism, 
one  and  indivisible  ;  and,  as  we  often  say  it,  eternally  one  ! 
One  of  your  Boston  literary  men  has  said,  and  given  it  as 
his  adviee  to  every  man  who  would  accomplish  something 
in  this  world,  that  he  should 

"  Hitch  his  wagon  to  a  star." 

He  meant  that  every  man  should  link  himself  with  some 
one  of  the  great  forces  in  -the  universe,  and  should. 
through  the  power  of  these  forces,  be  carried  forward. 
And  it  is  a  grand  conception  to  connect  and  link  ourselves 
with  some  one  of  the  great  principles,  interests,  move- 
ments, by  which  this  world  is  carried  forward.  When  a 
man  builds  a  ship,  he  does  not  build  it  to  sail  upon  the 
pond  before  his  house,  but  upon  the  ocean,  and  carries  its 
blessings  to  all  the  inhabitants  that  dwell  upon  its  fair 
face.  And  if  he  can  find  some  warm  and  beneficent  gulf, 
stream,  which  carries  a  genial  temperature,  and  endless 
good  to  all  lands,  why,  he  floats  himself  joyously  in  that ; 
and  so  shall  we,  and  so  do  we,  when  we  enter  into  the 
work  of  connectional  Methodism.  We  launch  into  that 
great  gulf-stream  of  philanthropy,  which  is,  at  this  hour, 
visiting  all  shores  of  the  globe,  and  carrying  the  warmth 
of  a  Christian  atmosphere  to  its  populations ;  for  our 
Methodism,  though  it  be  planted  in  America,  stretches  out 
its  arms  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  Your  Warren,  whose 
name  it  is  so  pleasant  to  you  to  mention,  is  doing  his  work 
on  the  soil  of  Germany,  even  at  this  hour,  an  illustration 
of  the  progressing,  expanding,  and  irrepressible  energy  of 
American  Methodism. 


190  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

The  Central  Centenary  Committee  are  an  executive 
committee.  They  devise  nothing,  —  they  simply  execute. 
They  have  no  right  to  hold  the  funds  that  come  into  their 
hands  ;  they  are  passed  over  to  the  Treasurers.  And  the 
plan,  which  has  been  given  them  to  execute,  embraces  nu- 
merous particulars,  some  of  which  are  already  familiar  to 
you;  but  it  has  occurred  to  me,  in  looking  over  the 
ground,  that,  in  offering  the  connectional  plan,  the  General 
Committee  have  provided  for  the  full  satisfaction  of  local 
feeling.  Thus,  here  in  New  England,  you  have  the  Bibli- 
cal School,  which  you  are  about  to  locate  near  the  city  of 
Boston,  or  therein.  In  the  centre,  at  New  York,  we  have 
committed  to  our  care  a  Missionary  Home  and  a  Biblical 
Institute  ;  and  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  say,  that  the  latter 
of  these  institutions  has  been  wholly  assumed  by  one  of 
our  great-hearted  and  liberal  laymen,  Daniel  Drew.  The 
other  of  these  has  been  taken  in  hand  by  the  ladies.  We 
are  certain  that  they  will  accomplish  what  they  undertake, 
for,  whenever  they  lay  their  hands  upon  any  enterprise, 
they  are  certain  to  carry  it  forward  to  a  successful  issue . 
Another  of  these  institutions  is  the  Biblical  Institute,  at 
Evanston,  near  Chicago.  Here,  too,  connectional  and  local 
feeling  are  alike  satisfied,  and,  in  the  same  manner,  the 
privilege  of  founding  a  Biblical  Institute  was  given  to  the 
people  of  Ohio,  to  be  located  near  Cincinnati ;  and  the 
privilege  of  locating  still  another,  on  the  Pacific  coast,  was 
given  to  the  citizens  of  San  Francisco.  And  I  want  to 
say,  to  the  honor  of  the  memory  of  one  of  your  own  New 
England  men,  the  pioneer  of  you  all,  that  it  was  the  cher- 
ished purpose  of  the  heart  of  Dr.  Dempster  to  go  and  end 
his  life  upon  the  sea-coast  of  the  Pacific,  and  give  the  last 
of  the  energies  of  that  long  and  useful  existence  to  the 
founding  and  building  up  of  an  institution  of  learning  for 
the  education  of  ministers,  on  that  far-off  coast.  While 
meditating  and  preparing  for  this  last  work  of  his  life,  it 
pleased  Providence  to  finish  all  his  work. 


DISCUSSION   OX   DR.    PATTEN'S    ESSAY.  101 

I  have  to  say,  brethren,  moreover,  that  while  the  local 
institutions  of  the  Church,  and  as  connected  with  the  cen- 
tenary  of  Methodism,  are  dear  to  us,  yet  we  cannot  answer 
the  question  fully,  —  "  What  shall  we  do  to  revive  and  per- 
petuate the  connectional  spirit?"  —  without  looking  at 
some  of  the  broad  connectional  enterprises  which,  in  Di- 
vine Providence,  are  placed  under  our  care.  It  has  been 
contemplated,  therefore,  and  proposed,  that  we  found,  as 
a  memorial,  a  Connectional  Educational  Fund.  Let  us 
look  at  this.  To  what  purposes  is  it  to  be  applied?  First, 
to  the  preparation  of  young  men  who  design  and  desire  to 
enter  the  missionary  work  ;  secondly,  to  the  aiding  the 
education  of  young  men  who  intend  to  enter  the  ministry 
at  home  ;  third,  to  the  support  (mark  this)  and  mainten- 
ance of  the  Biblical  Schools  now  in  existence,  or  which 
shall  hereafter  be  created  with  the  sanction  of  the  Church. 

[Time  for  the  speaker  being  up,  it  was  extended  by 
motion  of  Dr.  Cummings.] 

I  was  on  the  point  of  saying  that,  in  the  third  place,  the 
fund  il  to  be  appropriated  to  the  support  of  the  Biblical 
Institutes  ;  and,  in  the  last  place,  to  the  support  of  the 
academies  and  colleges  existing,  or  which  may  be  founded 
on  conditions  specified. 

Rev.  Dr.  Eddy,  of  Chicago :  —  I  was  requested  a  few 
moments  ago  by  our  friend,  Dr.  Patten,  to  say  a  few 
words  with  especial  reference  to  the  work  of  our  Biblical 
Institute  in  the  West.  Sufficient  to  say,  in  reference  to  it, 
that  the  hand  of  God  hath  strangely  been  manifested  in 
that  work.  Some  time  in  1839,  a  lady  in  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago came  forward  and  bowed  at  the  altar  of  prayer  as  a 
«eeker  of  salvation,  to  become  partaker  with  the  faith  of 
the  gospel,  and  was  blessed  with  a  Christian  experience. 
When,  in  the  providence  of  God,  she  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  a  large  fortune,  she  determined,  before  she  passed 
away,  to  endow  a  school  for  the  instruction  of  young  men, 
candidates  for  the  Christian  ministry.     That  school  was 


192  METHODIST    CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

planted  upon  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan.  There  came 
to  it  one  of  your  own  men,  —  the  indomitable,  brave,  iron- 
hearted,  determined,  pure-minded  John  Dempster.  [Great 
applause.]  And  I  may  say,  Mr.  President,  that  it  is  one 
of  the  most  vivid  remembrances  of  my  life,  that  that  de- 
voted man  of  God  breathed  his  last  in  my  arms.  A  little 
while  before  he  died,  he  was  told  that  he  must  soon  pass 
over  the  river ;  and  when  I  said  these  words,  there  was 
not  a  tremor  passed  over  his  countenance,  not  a  blanch  of 
the  cheek.  He  received  the  announcement  in  the  same 
manner  that  he  would  have  received  anything  of  the  most 
common  character. 

God  has  strangely  blessed  that  institution.  The  endow- 
ment which  it  received  from  that  "  elect  lady  "  is  princi- 
pally near  or  in  Chicago  city  proper ;  and  it  is  worthy  of 
notice,  perhaps,  that  the  great  building  which  was  erected 
for  the  Convention  which  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  for 
the  first  time  President  of  the  United  States,  was  erected 
upon  the  lands  owned  by  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  of 
the  North  West.  That  building  is  still  in  our  possession, 
and  is  still  preserved  as  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the  North 
West.  That  property  is  destined  to  sustain  one  of  the  best 
institutions  of  our  country,  for  such,  with  God's  blessing, 
we  mean  to  make  it.  I  want  to  say,  sir,  it  is  our  purpose 
to  rear  the  building,  of  which  you  have  heard  in  New  Eng- 
land, the  Memorial  Heck  Hall,  and  the  foundation-stone  is 
to  be  laid  in  a  few  weeks. 

We  have  gone  out  to  our  people,  saying,  "You  are 
clamoring  for  this  ministry  of  highest  culture.  Thus  far, 
the  Biblical  Institute  (the  only  one  in  the  West)  has  not 
cost  the  Church  a  single  dollar.  Now,  we  ask  you  to  fur- 
nish the  means  for  the  buildings,  or  stop  your  clamor." 
And  they  are  doing  it.  It  is  the  purpose  of  the  trustees, 
that  not  one  of  the  dollars  of  the  fund  for  the  endowment 
shall  be  put  into  the  brick  and  mortar.  We  will  wait 
till  the  Church  will  rear  these  buildings.     We  will  not  ex- 


DISCUSSION   OX   DR.    PATTEN'S    E6SAT.  193 

pend  these  trust-funds,  but  will  send,  if  need  be,  to  all  tho 
it  "West,  appeal  after  appeal,  till  the  Church  will  pro- 
vide them;  but  not  one  dollar  of  these  trust-funds  do  wo 
purpose  to  expend.  God's  blessing  has  been  upon  it. 
Young  as  the  institution  is,  its  representatives  have  been 
heard  upon  the  other  side  of  the  globe.  The  mission  in 
India  has  been  strengthened  by  it.  And  now  we  are 
waiting  to  hear  what  New  England  says  in  reference  to 
the  cause  of  Biblical  institutions.  We  shake  hands  with 
you,  in  this  great  work,  from  the  prairies  of  the  great 
West.     I  will  delay  you  no  longer. 

C.  C.  North,  Esq.,  of  New  York:  —  I  stand  here  as 
the  representative  of  a  million  of  children.  I  have  come 
here  in  these  five  minutes  to  advocate  the  interests  and 
well-being  of  a  million  of  children.  I  cannot  do  much  in 
the  five  minutes.  I  see  them,  all  through  the  ranks  of 
Methodism,  wondering  how  I  will  make  out  in  this  short 
time.  I  am  here  to  represent  the  "  Children's  Fund  r?  as  a 
part  of  the  great  centennial  plan.  Now,  there  comes  an 
opportunity,  a  golden  and  glorious  opportunity,  in  this 
centenary  year,  to  give  the  children  a  chance  to  work  for 
themselves.  Now,  what  do  we  hear  ?  Here  is  Bro.  Pat- 
ten, wanting  all  these  little  children  to  come  and  sustain 
the  Theological  Institute.  We  want  them  to  be  em- 
ployed, through  all  the  ranks  of  Methodism,  in  building  up 
a  monument  of  not  less  than  a  million  dollars  for  the  espe- 
cial benefit  of  the  children  ;  a  fund  by  which  the  intelli- 
gent children  of  the  Sabbath-school  —  [a  voice,  saying, 
"  Bro.  North,  the  children  can  do  both,  if  you  will  let 
them."]  Yes,  I  know  it,  but  shall  they  be  allowed  to  do 
it?  We  want  a  dollar  for  every  scholar  throughout 
Methodism,  for  a  grand  centennial  monument,  as  an  ex- 
pression of  the  gratitude  of  the  children,  which  shall  re- 
dound through  all  time  to  come,  and  be  a  source  of  com- 
fort, and  a  source  of  joy.  Brethren  of  New  England,  I 
beg  of  you  to  remember  the  children,  the  ignorant  and 


194  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

poor  children,  who  ought  to  be  educated  by  this  fund  ; 
and  now  let  us  have  a  fund  worthy  of  the  children 
throughout  the  connection.  Why,  sir,  I  look  over  this 
vast  assembly  of  men  and  women,  and  on  this  platform, 
and  I  see  all  these  finished  and  educated  men,  and  these 
noble  women,  are  the  result  of  our  Sunday-school  enter- 
prise. 

What  would  be  nobler  than  to  remember  the  Children's 
Fund,  and  roll  out  a  portion  of  your  means,  and  roll  up 
such  a  fund  as  will  be  of  vast  benefit  to  the  youth  of  our 
country  ? 

I  remember  a  little  boy,  sitting  on  his  mother's  door- 
step, bare-footed  and  bare-headed,  and  a  kind  and  intelli- 
gent teacher  came  along,  and  he  took  him  and  brought 
him  into  his  Sabbath-school,  and  educated  and  trained  him. 
All  he  knew  he  owed  to  the  Sabbath-school,  and  here  he 
stands  before  you  to-day.  [Sensation  and  applause.]  Do 
you  suppose  that  I  am  willing  to  take  my  centenary  offer- 
ing of  this  centenary  year,  and  give  part  of  it  to  the  Theo- 
logical Institutes,  and  Central  Educational  Funds,  and 
missionary  buildings  in  New  York,  and  part  of  it  here,  and 
part  there,  and  nothing  to  the  Sabbath-school,  which  has 
done  so  much  for  me  ?  I  will  give  a  part  to  the  Theologi- 
cal Institute,  and,  so  far  as  there  is  any  Irish  in  me,  part 
to  the  Irish  Fund  ;  and,  so  far  as  there  is  any  German  in 
me,  part  to  the  German  Fund  ;  but  I  tell  you  that  at  least 
one  thousand  dollars  shall  go  out  of  my  pocket  for  the 
Children's  Fund.  [Great  applause.]  Now,  solid  men  and 
women  of  Boston,  you  of  New  England,  come  forward 
and  do  likewise.     [Long-continued  applause.] 

Bishop  Simpson,  being  called  on,  responded  as  follows  : 
—  I  have  neither  strength,  brethren,  nor  will  time  permit 
me  to  spend  but  a  moment  or  two.  I  rose  simply  to  say 
that  this  great  enterprise  of  yours,  in  building  a  Centen- 
nial Theological  Institute  for  New  England,  meets  my 
warmest  sympathy,  and  most  cordial  approbation.     There 


DISCUSSION   ON   DB.    PATTEN'S    ESSAY.  195 

are  enterprises  of  vast  moment,  and  you  will  have,  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  it,  your  seminaries  to  sustain  and  endow; 
but  it  seems  to  me  that,  in  addition  to  your  local  work  in 
your  Conferences,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Church  throughout 
all  New  England  to  give  something  to  this  central  insti- 
tute, which  shall  be  as  a  fountain  from  which,  I  trust,  riv- 
ers of  water  shall  flow  for  centuries  to  come. 

When  you  consider  the  amount  required,  it  will  not  be 
a  very  large  sum,  and  yet  I  know  of  very  liberal-minded 
brethren  who  will  make  very  large  contributions;  but, 
after  the  matter  is  carried  to  all  your  churches,  if  you  who 
arc  here  will  but  carry  away  the  proper  spirit,  and  urge 
your  men  of  means  to  contribute  something  to  this  cause, 
you  will  see  arising  here  in  Boston  or  vicinity  an  institu- 
tion of  which  you  will  be  proud. 

Your  children  will  come  here  for  an  education,  for  I 
know  you  have  a  desire  to  have  sons  in  the  ministry. 
Young  men  to  be  educated,  some  of  them  out  of  the 
streets,  as  one  of  these  has  spoken  of,  will  arise  to  be  the 
men  of  eloquence,  and  the  men  who  shall  lead  all  Israel 
along  for  you.  I  hope  that  New  England  ivill  secure  an 
ample  endowment  for  the  School  of  the  Prophets. 

Br.  Peck,  being  called  on,  said  :  —  Not  at  this  moment, 
if  you  please,  Mr.  President.  I  thank  the  brethren,  but 
desire  them  to  consider  precisely  the  stage  of  our  affairs, 
and  excuse  me  to  a  later  period.  I  am  in  such  a  condition 
of  restraint  with  regard  to  the  different  topics  that  are  up, 
that  I  beg  you  not  to  increase  the  influence  which  tends 
to  utterance,  did  I  attempt  an  expression.  I  am  busy  with 
all  my  might  in  suppressing  myself.  Now,  you  help  me. 
[Applause  and  laughter.] 

The  Convention  adjourned,  with  singing  the  doxology, 
and  the  benediction. 


196  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

THURSDAY   AFTERNOON. 

The  services  were  opened  with  singing 

"  Jesus,  the  name  high  over  all," 

and  prayer  by  Rev.  A.  C.  Manson,  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Conference. 

Hon.  J.  J.  Perry,  of  Maine,  read  the  following  essay  on 
the  Duty  of  New  England  Methodism  to  the  South :  —    ■ 

Mr.  President  :  —  Ever  since  the  Pilgrims  planted  their  feet 
upon  Plymouth  Rock,  New  England  has  occupied  a  conspicu- 
ous position  in  the  history  of  this  country.  Strike  out  her 
record  from  its  pages,  and  you  disfigure  every  page  upon 
which  is  written  the  triumphs  of  American  genius,  the  valor 
of  American  arms,  and  the  gigantic  progress  of  the  human 
mind  in  the  fields  of  literature,  science,  and  the  arts. 

New  England  struck  the  ke}T-note  of  the  Revolution,  and  so 
long  as  the  fiery,  glowing,  eloquent  words  which  shook  old 
Faneuil  Hall  and  the  world  —  from  the  lips  of  Otis,  of  Adams, 
and  Warren  —  are  ringing  in  our  ears,  liberty  will  never  die. 

When  treason  culminated  into  open  rebellion,  and  armed 
resistance  to  the  general  government ;  when  the  life  of  the 
nation  was  suspended  in  the  balance,  and  the  capital  of  the 
country  was  beleagured  by  the  barbarians  of  slavery,  —  old 
Massachusetts  was  the  first  State  in  the  Union  to  send  for- 
ward her  troops  to  its  defence.  The  first  blood  that  was  shed 
in  defence  of  American  liberty,  flowed  from  the  veins  of  Mas- 
sachusetts soldiers  at  Lexington ;  and  the  first  martyrs  in 
the  cause  of  human  rights,  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  were 
Massachusetts  soldiers,  who  fell  on  their  way  to  the  national 
capital,  before  the  fury  of  a  pro-slavery  mob  in  the  streets  of 
Baltimore. 

When  the  highway  to  Washington  was  hedged  up,  and  the 
devil  of  secession  sat  "  grinning  ghastly  smiles  "  in  the  monu- 
mental city,  boasting  that  no  more  Yankee  troops  could  pass 
over  Maryland  soil,  and  that  the  Federal  capital  would  be  an 


MB.  terry's  essay.  197 

easy  prey  to  the  rebels,  it  was  the  inventive  genius,  the  heroic 
courage,  an<l  indomitable  perseverance  of  a  Massachusetts 
General,  in  the  person  of  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  that  cleared  the 
track,  and  taught  the  people  of  "  My  Maryland  "  that  what 
could  not  be  got  over  could  be  got  round. 

With  a  soil  less  fertile,  and  natural  advantages  inferior  to 
her  sister  States  in  the  South,  the  West,  and  the  Middle  Coun- 
try, New  England,  in  the  great  race  of  high  intellectual  cul- 
ture, moral  reform,  works  of  benevolence,  and  intensified 
patriotism,  has  outran  them  all.  New  England  has  always 
been  great,  but  the  historical  events  of  the  last  live  years  have 
elevated  her  still  higher  in  the  scale. 

And  here,  in  passing  along,  I  am  forcibly  reminded  of  the 
stale  old  cry  that  has  been  coming  up  from  the  South  and  the 
"West  for  years,  "  Slough  her  off,  and  leave  New  England 
out  in  the  cold."  The  Union,  without  New  England,  would  be 
like  the  play  of  Hamlet  without  Hamlet.  Dismember  her 
from  the  Union,  and  it  would  not  be  like  the  severing  of  a  foot 
or  a  hand,  but  it  would  be  a  decapitation  of  the  body  politic, 
followed  by  all  the  disastrous  consequences  that  naturally  re- 
sult from  such  an  act. 

When  we  speak  of  New  England,  we  mean  something  besides 
her  cloud-capt  mountains,  verdurous  hills,  fertile,  sunny  vales, 
glassy  lakes,  majestic  rivers,  and  sounding  woodlands,  —  some- 
thing besides  her  splendid  cities,  beautiful  villages,  industrial 
workshops,  humming  factories,  and  neat,  commodious  farm- 
houses. We  mean  her  men  and  women,  —  her  hard},  intelli- 
gent, industrious  population. 

Again,  when  we  speak  of  the  people  of  New  England  we 
cannot  forget  that  we  are  addressing  one  hundred  thousand 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  representing  four 
million  dollars  in  church  property,  with  an  army  of  Sabbath- 
school  scholars  numbering  over  ninety  thousand.  I  believe 
a  fair  estimate  of  those  connected  with  our  churches,  societies, 
and  congregations  —  of  those  who  tacitly  agree  with  us  in  our 
doctrines,  and  modes  of  worship,  and  who  either  directly  or 
indirectly  ally  themselves  to  us  as  a  religious  denomination, 
will  add  one  fifth  to  our  membership,  making   a  total  of  Jive 


198  METHODIST   OENTENAEY    CONVENTION. 

hundred  thousand  who  look  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  New  England  as  their  great  religious  teacher  and  instructor. 
The  six  New  England  States  in  18G0  contained  a  population 
of  3,135,285.  They  probably  now  number  3,500,000.  From 
this  it  will  be  seen  that  one  seventh  part  of  the  whole  popu- 
lation may  be  classed  as  Methodists. 

Without  stopping  to  give  the  statistics  of  other  religious 
denominations,  or  to  make  a  comparison  between  them  and 
our  own,  I  may  be  fully  justified  in  the  remark  that  Methodism 
is  a  power  in  New  England. 

This  brings  us  to  the  question  for  discussion,  "  The  duty  of 
New  England  Methodism  to  the  South." 

First.  In  doing  our  duty  to  the  South,  we  have  a  great 
and  important  work  to  perform  at  home.  Armed  rebellion  in 
the  South  has  been  subdued  by  military  power.  In  this  great 
work  New  England  has  acted  a  prominent  part.  She  furnished 
men  and  money  without  stint.  The  rebels  have  laid  down  their 
arms,  but  the  contest  is  not  ended.  It  is  no  longer  a  war  of 
bristling  bayonets,  and  booming  cannon,  but  a  war  of  opinions. 
Rebellion  is  not  dead.  There  is  dark,  deep,  and  damning 
treason  yet  firing  the  Southern  heart.  The  South  say  to  us, 
11  We  want  to  come  back  into  the  Union."  We  reply,  "  Very 
well,  we  want  jtou  to  come  back."  Thus  far  both  parties 
agree  in  the  abstract.  But  there  is  a  conflict,  and  it  is  right 
here.  We  say  to  the  South,  "  We  want  you  to  come  back 
into  the  Union  truly  loyal  ?ne?i,  so  that  we  can  have  guaran- 
ties for  the  future."  They  reply,  "  No,  sir ;  we  do  not 
admit  that  secession  and  rebellion  were  wrong  ;  we  only  sub- 
mitted to  Federal  authority  because  we  were  obliged  to  by  supe- 
rior military  force  ;  in  other  words,  we  are  just  as  good  rebels 
now,  as  we  ever  were,  and  we  claim  the  right  to  send  back 
into  Congress  the  very  same  class  of  men  who,  in  1861,  left 
the  House  and  Senate  to  inaugurate  the  rebellion."  Here,  then, 
is  the  great  issue  that  must  be  met  and  settled,  not  by  bullets, 
but  by  ballots.  The  remark  is  sometimes  made  that  it  is  wrong 
to  cany  religion  into  politics. 

This,  in  plain  English,  means  that  a  Christian  man  should 
take  off  his  Christian  coat  and  ignore  his  religious  character  to 


MB.  pebbt's  essay.  199 

qualify  him  to  exercise  the  elective  franchise.  God  deliver 
us  {Void  ever  belonging  to  a  party  whose  platform  and  prin- 
ciples hide  themselves  away  from  the  teachings  of  truth  and 
righteousness ! 

Two  parties  may  start  on  apolitical  campaign  and  fight  it 
out  where  there  really  is  no  principle  involved.  Sometimes 
abstract  questions  of  party  policy  may  be  all  that  divide 
parties.  ;ind  at  other  times  it  may  be  narrowed  down  to  the 
simple  question,  Who  shall  enjoy  the  patronage  and  receive  the 
loaves  and  (ishes.  Since  the  inauguration  of  the  rebellion, 
voting  has  become  a  more  serious  business.  New  and  weighty 
responsibilities  have  attached  themselves  to  every  man  who 
goes  to  the  ballot-box. 

What  will  hereafter  protect  the  Union  men  of  the  South, 
either  black  or  white,  but  the  votes  of  the  loyal  men  of  the 
North?  Our  armies  are  being  withdrawn,  and  the  Freedmen's 
Bureau  will  be  trammelled  or  destroyed  by  the  policy  of 
Andrew  Johnson,  and  who  will  save  them  from  the  brutal 
ferocity  of  President  Johnson's  reconstructed  rebels  ?  Let  the 
Memphis  riot  and  other  like  scenes  answer  the  question. 

I  therefore  lay  it  down  as  a  plain  logical  conclusion,  grow- 
ing out  of  the  premises,  that  the  sixty  or  seventy  thousand 
Methodist  voters  in  New  England  should  so  bestow  their 
suffrages  as  to  secure  to  the  Union  men  of  the  South  the  full 
enjoyment  of  all  their  civil,  religious,  and  political  rights  under 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  as  amended,  and  the 
laws  of  Congress.  This  is  among  the  very  first  great  duties 
that  Methodism  owes  the  South.  New  England  Methodists 
should,  by  their  votes,  aid  in  keeping  in  Congress  a  class  of 
men  who  never  can  be  drawn  away  from  the  straight  line  of  duty 
by  the  corrupting  inlluences  of  executive  patronage,  and  who 
will  stand  linn  against  any  and  every  reconstruction  policy 
that  will  not  secure  to  the  nation  a  permanent  peace,  and  at 
the  same  time  secure  to  the  freedmen  and  the  loyal  element  in 
the  South  full  and  ample  protection,  now  and  hereafter.  They 
should  aid  in  electing  such  men  as  will  bar  the  doors  of 
Congress  against  the  entrance  of  the  leading  traitors  in  the 
rebellion.      And  if  3-011  inquire  how    long    the  Jell'.  Davises, 


200  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

the  Benjamins,  the  Lees,  the  Toombses,  the  Hunters,  and  the 
Masons  should  be  excluded,  I  answer,  Forever. 

For  years  before  the  rebellion,  a  northern  man  had  no 
country  south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line.  The  old  flag 
was  no  protection  to  him  there,  unless  he  was  shingled  all 
over  with  certificates  of  character  from  some  pro-slavery 
demagogue  in  the  North.  Citizens  of  the  North  who  had 
committed  no  offence,  while  travelling  in  the  South, 
were  waited  upon  by  vigilance  committees,  waylaid  by 
drunken,  howling  mobs  ;  insulted,  maimed,  tarred  and  feath- 
ered, ridden  upon  rails,  imprisoned,  hung,  and  butchered  in 
cold  blood,  upon  mere  suspicion  of  being  what  the  barbarians 
sneeringly  called  abolitionists.  Let  us  vote  squarely  against 
any  policy  of  reconstruction  that  does  not  blot  out  from 
American  soil  that  old  s}*stem  of  atrocious  despotism  which 
so  long  cursed  and  disgraced  the  American  name. 

I  ask  your  pardon  while  I  indulge  in  a  single  digression  from 
the  line  of  my  argument.  An  eminent  Methodist  divine  in  a 
public  address  a  few  weeks  since,  made  this  remark  :  —  that  the 
Methodists  were  a  modest  kind  of  a  people,  and  had  never  in- 
dulged to  any  great  extent  in  self  praise  ;  but  this  year  being 
centenary  }Tear,  they  had  a  general  license  to  say  what  they 
pleased,  —  and  I  desire  to  say  a  few  words  under  this  section. 

I  raise  the  inquiry,  How  has  it  happened  that  a  great  re- 
ligious order,  outnumbering  by  hundreds  of  thousands  any 
other  religious  denomination  in  the  country,  and  holding  the 
balance  of  power  in  every  state  in  the  Union,  has  had  compara- 
tively so  few  representatives  in  the  councils  of  the  state  and 
nation  ?  With  your  Methodist  population  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  in  Massachusetts,  how  many  men  of  our  order 
have  been  placed  in  the  gubernatorial  chair,  and  how  many 
Methodists  have  ever  represented  the  old  Bay  State  in  Con- 
gress? I  might  propound  the  same  interrogatory  to  every 
other  New  England  State.  Is  not  the  answer  found  in  the 
fact  that  other  orders  have  taken  better  care  of  their  own 
friends  than  have  the  Methodists  ?  Let  me  be  not  misunder- 
stood. I  do  not  contend  that  the  Methodists,  as  a  body, 
should  set  themselves  up  as  a  political  party,  that  the  machin- 


MB.   PEBRT'S    ESSAY.  2<)1 

oiy  of  her  church  should  be  brought  to  bear  In  any  such  direc- 
tion. Such  a  proposition  would  savor  too  much  of  "Church 
and  Stale."    What  I  do  maintain  is  this,  that,  in   selecting 

candidates  for  office,  the  Methodists  should  see  to  it  that  her 
denominational  rights  and  interests  are  not  ignored  by  poli- 
tical parties.  Our  order  should  have  a  fair  representation 
among  other  religious  orders,  other  things  being  equal.  Metho- 
dists should  take  care  of  their  own  friends.  Not  a  single 
election  takes  place.  where  political  parties  do  not  need  Metho- 
dist votes.  Let  us  say  to  them,  give  us  fair  and  equal  represen- 
tation ;  if  not,  ive  will  make  ijou  ;  and  the  work  will  be  done.  If 
in  times  past  we  have  Buffered  in  this  regard,  the  fault  lays  at 
our  own  doors  ;  we  have  been  too  generous  to  others  and  too 
unmindful  of  our  own  interests  and  our  friends.  I  speak  as 
to  wise  men  ;  judge  }re  what  I  say. 

Second.  Another  duty  New  England  Methodists  owe  the 
South  is  to  aid  in  planting  New  England  institutions  upon  her 
soil.  I  use  the  term  in  its  broadest,  most  comprehensive 
sense  ;  and,  in  the  first  place,  we  can  do  this  by  laboring  to 
extend  to  them  our  superior  educational  advantages.  New 
England,  in  an  educational  point  of  view,  is  the  garden  of 
the  world.  Our  universities,  colleges,  graded  seminaries, 
academies,  and  common  schools  challenge  the  admiration  of 
the  world. 

If  the  sunny  South  had  been  dotted  over  with  New  Eng- 
land School-houses,  there  never  would  have  been  any  rebellion. 
Had  the  advantages  of  a  common  School  education,  which  we 
enjoy,  been  extended  to  the  masses  south  of  Mason  and 
Dixon's  line,  their  conservative  influences  would  have  held 
the  demon  of  secession  in  chains,  and  the  rebel  leaders  would 
have  failed  in  "  firing  the  southern  heart  "and  plunging  the 
country  into  civil  war. 

Not  only  the  freedmen  but  the  poor  whites  must  be  raised 
up  from  the  pits  of  ignorance  and  moral  degradation  into  which 
they  have  fallen  under  the  degrading  influences  of  slavery,  and 
they  must  be  taught  something  more  elevating  than  the  old 
traditional  southern  training  of  hating  the  Yankees,  and  curs- 
ing the  abolitionists.  I  know  that  the  masses  in  the  South 
14 


202  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

have  been  for  years  taught  b}T  the  "chivalry"  that  Yankee 
school-masters,  and  Yankee  school-mistresses  are  monsters ; 
but  notwithstanding  this,  it  is  our  duty  to  send  them  down  there, 
and  if  we  do  it,  we  shall  in  the  end  "  conquer  their  prejudices" 
and  reconstruct  public  sentiment  in  the  South  upon  this 
question. 

The  rebellion  and  the  abolition  of  slavery  have  left  southern 
Society  in  a  transition  state,  and  now  is  the  favored  time 
for  New  England  Methodists  to  join  hands  with  their  brethren, 
of  all  other  sects  and  orders,  to  take  the  field  and  carry  for- 
ward the  standard  of  education  until  it  waves  in  triumph  over 
eveiy  southern  field. 

It  may  cost  us  something,  but  what  of  that?  We  may 
as  well  make  books,  as  manufacture  guns,  and  powder,  and 
balls  ;  we  may  as  well  educate  men  at  Harvard,  at  Middle- 
town,  at  Yale,  Dartmouth,  Bowdoin,  and  our  other  colleges, 
seminaries,  and  schools,  to  fight  our  battles  in  the  civilian's 
dress,  as  send  them  to  West  Point,  and  Annapolis,  to  learn 
to  fight  in  gilded  uniforms  and  shoulder-straps. 

In  the  next  place  it  is  our  dut}r  as  Methodists  to  perform 
our  share  of  the  work  in  carrj'ing  into  the  South  New 
England  industry.  It  rnaj^  be  called  boasting  to  allege  that 
the  men  and  women  of  New  England  have  clone  more  than 
the  people  of  any  other  section  of  the  Union  to  infuse  a  spirit 
of  enterprise  into  the  masses,  but  it  is  the  truth ;  and  the 
same  ma}T  be  said  when  we  assert  that  New  England  indus- 
try has  become  proverbial  all  over  the  country.  How  have 
New  England  emigrants  fashioned  and  moulded  society  in 
the  Middle  States,  and  in  the  great  West,  carrying  with 
them  their  churches,  their  school-houses,  their  high-toned 
morals,  their  excellent  systems  of  manual  labor,  their  un- 
tiring industry,  and  thrifty  enterprise. 

Had  not  the  vile  system  of  slavery,  dividing  off  Southern 
territory  into  large  landed  estates,  creating  caste  and  de- 
grading free  labor,  shut  out  from  the  South  New  Eng- 
land enterprise  and  industry,  instead  of  the  desolation  that 
wasteth  at  noon-day,  instead  of  deserted  churches,  barren 
fields,  cities  in  ashes,  and  the  wide  spread  ruin  of   war    on 


MR,  perry's  essay.  203 

every  hand,  the  whole  South  would  have  been  to-day  as  the 
'♦garden  of  the  Lord."  Yes,  Sir;  for  the  want  of  the  life- 
giving,  electrifying  energy  that  New  England  enterprise;  and 
industry  would  have  infused  into  it,  that  whole  section  of 
country  stands  to-day  chained  up  to  the  dead  past.  Slavery 
is  dead.  Thank  God.  The  black  man  no  longer  toils  in 
the  chain  gang,  and  under  the  lash.  When  he  labors,  the 
law  says  he  shall  have  his  pay.  Free  labor  for  both  races 
hereafter  is  to  be  the  order  of  the  day  in  all  the  South. 
Tliis  will  make  a  tremenduous  overturn  in  their  whole  social 
system.  To  successfully  bring  about  this  great  revolution  the 
South  will  need  help,  and  the  Yankees  are  just  the  men  to  tell 
them  how  to  do  it.  And  strange  as  it  may  seem,  I  believe 
the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  our  southern  brethren' will  be 
glad  to  avail  themselves  of  Yankee  skill,  and  industry.  Before 
the  war  the  southern  chivalry  said  we  were  a  set  of  cowards, 
that  we  dare  not  fight,  a,nd  that  one  southron  could  whip  ten 
Yankees.  Somehow  or  other,  the  events  of  the  last  four  or 
five  years,  have  taught  them  that  the3T  labored  under  a 
mistake  in  this  particular;  so  by  the  time  they  get  fairly  recon- 
structed they  will  (hid  they  have  been  mistaken  about  some 
other  thin 

Third.  The  closing  of  the  rebellion  opens  in  the  South  one 
of  the  greatest  fields  for  missionary  work  that  is  anywhere 
presented  to  the  Church,  and  it  is  the  duty  of  New  England 
Methodism  to  go  in  and  help  to  occupy  it.  "  Say  not  four 
months,  and  then  cometh  the  harvest.  I  say  unto  you,  the 
fields  are  white  already  to  harvest."  Not  only  Ethiopia 
stretcheth  forth  her  hands  unto  God,  but  a  cry  conies  up  from 
the  loyal  men  and  women  of  the  whole  South,  "  Come  over 
and  help  us."  Here  is  one  of  the  grandest  fields  for  Christian 
enterprise  that  ever  has  or  ever  can  come  up,  making  demands 
upon  the  liberality  and  enterprise  of  the  Church.  If  we  don't 
'•  carry  the  war  into  Africa,"  in  this  moral  contest,  let  us  for- 
ever blot  out  this  old  Roman  maxim,  not  only  from  our  books, 
but  our  very  memories. 

The  reasons  for  the  positions  here  assumed  are  numerous 
and  weighty,  a  very  few  of  which  I  have  time  to  notice. 


204  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

1.  The  Methodist  Church  owes  it  to  her  own  character  and 
standing  as  a  Church,  to  occupy  this  ground.  Our  Church  is 
emphatically  a  missionary  Church.  "Wherever  man  goes,  the 
self-sacrificing  Methodist  itinerant  finds  his  way,  carrying  upon 
his  lips  the  last  great  command  of  his  Master,  "  Preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature."  He  follows  the  resounding  echoes 
of  the  pioneer's  axe,  as  he  advances  into  the  Western  wilds ; 
and,  when  nightfall  closes  his  daily  toils,  he  sits  down  with 
him  in  his  log  cabin,  and  preaches  Jesus  to  him  there.  Oh ! 
there  is  a  moral  sublimity,  a  halo  of  glory,  as  if  from  the 
Eternal  Throne,  settling  upon  the  heads  of  these  heroes  of 
Methodism  as  they  carry  the  banners  of  the  Cross,  not  only 
across  continents,  but  into  foreign  lands  and  the  isles  of  the 
sea,  everywhere  proclaiming  the  everlasting  gospel  and  the  final 
conquest  of  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  to  the  kingdom  of  our 
Lord  and  his  Christ. 

Can  such  a  Church,  with  such  agencies  for  spreading  the 
truth,  look  on  with  indifference  with  such  a  field  before  it  as 
exists  in  the  South  ?  Why,  sir,  it  would  be  a  reproach  to  the 
Methodist  name  to  do  it,  and  the  world  would  look  on  in  won- 
der, and  cry  out,  fallen  !  fallen ! 

2.  We  owe  it  to  the  kyval  Methodists  in  the  rebel  States, 
formerly  connected  with  the  Church  South,  to  occupy  this 
ground.  Many  of  them  are  tired  of  this  pro-slavery  church 
organization ;  they  desire  to  get  back  with  their  brethren  to 
the  old  fold.  It  is  our  duty  to  extend  to  them  the  helping 
hand.  But  our  duty  does  not  stop  when  we  send  them  the 
preached  Word ;  we  should  send  them  means  to  build  up  the 
walls  of  their  spiritual  Jerusalem,  to  repair  up  old  churches, 
and,  wherever  practicable,  build  new  ones.  More  than  this,  we 
should  gather  them  together  into  churches  and  societies,  and 
extend  to  them  the  ordinances  of  the  Church.  And,  when  this 
is  done,  it  is  our  duty  to  stand  by  them  until  they  can  take  care 
of  themselves.  It  is  a  great  gratification  to  know  that  this 
good  work  is  already  begun  by  our  Church  authorities.  Let  it 
go  on,  until  all  true  Methodists,  North  and  South,  shall  see  eye 
to  eye,  having  one  Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism,  one  country. 

3.  The  freedmen  of  the  South  have  special  claims  upon  us 


MB.  perry's  essat.  205 

.is  a  Church  to  aid  them  in  the  terrible  ordeal  through  which 
they  are  now  passing.  Their  loyalty  to  the  Government,  their 
bravery  upon  the  battle-field,  their  fidelity  to  our  half-starved 
prisoners,  need  no  eulogy  from  me.  They  arc  known  and  read 
of  all  men.  Thousands  of  these  freedmen  are  Methodists,  but 
being  in  a  transition  stale,  from  slavery  to  freedom,  they  need 
help.  Our  Church  authorities  should  have  the  means  put  into 
their  hands  to  meet  the  spiritual  wants  and  necessities  of  these 
men.  They  never  again  can  need  assistance  so  much  as  now. 
Let  Xew  England  Methodists  see  to  it  that  the}'  discharge  their 
whole  duty  in  this  direction. 

4.  If  we  do  not  occupy  the  missionary  ground  now  opened 
to  us  in  the  South,  other  denominations  trill,  and  we  shall  lose  it 
forever.  Our  brethren  of  other  orders  understand  this  thing, 
and  the}'  are  moving  with  a  commendable  vigor  and  en< 
They  concede  to  us  the  front  rank  in  the  great  army  of  our 
God,  and  we  shall  be  compelled  to  march  forward  in  this  order 
from  victory  to  victory.  As  a  denomination  of  Christians  we 
have  great  and  vital  interests  at  stake  in  this  matter.  Respon- 
sibilities crowd  up  from  eveiy  direction,  and  we  shall  prove 
ourselves  degenerate  sons  of  noble  sires  if  we  fail  to  meet 
them  as  Christian  men. 

5.  The  last  general  point  that  I  shall  have  time  to  notice 
in  the  discussion  of  the  question,  is  this  :  In  discharging  our 
duty  to  the  South,  we  should  adopt  such  a  polic^v  as  will  have 
a  tendency  to  bring  back  the  Church  South  to  loyality,  and  re- 
unite both  branches  in  one  body.  And  here  let  no  one  start  back, 
for  I  shall  base  my  whole  argument  upon  the  hypothesis  that 
we  never  shall  be  called  to  go  to  them;  but  they,  in  the  end, 
will  come  back  to  us.  When  it  became,  known  as  a  fixed  fact, 
that  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  to  be  divided  into 
two  great  divisions  —  separated  by  a  geographical  line  between 
the  North  and  the  South  —  that  distinguished  Statesman, 
Henry  Clay,  in  great  sorrow,  remarked,  that  "it  would  cer- 
tainly lead  to  a  division  of  the  Union."  What  was  prophecy 
then,  is  history  now.  Mr.  Clay  saw  at  a  glance  that  when  the 
most  numerous,  influential  denomination  of  Christians  in  the 
country,  representing   a  population  of  live   or   six   millions, 


206  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

divided  into  two  great  antagonistic  bodies,  one  representing 
the  North  and  the  other  the  South,  with  slavery  as  the  rock 
upon  which  they  split,  it  must  of  necessity  intensify  the  hos- 
ting then  existing  between  the  two  sections  of  the  country. 
And  so  it  proved.  After  breaking  away  from  the  main  body, 
the  Church  South  made  pro-slavery  ism,  with  all  its  atrocities, 
its  great  hobby,  and  with  a  phrenzied  zeal  continued  to  fan  the 
embers  of  secession,  until  they  burst  out  into  open,  armed  re- 
bellion. During  the  war  the  Church  North  and  South  were 
equally  pitted  against  each  other.  The  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  furnished  more  men  for  the  Federal  army  than  any 
other  denomination  in  the  country  to  put  down  the  rebellion. 
The  Church  South  led  all  other  orders  in  supplying  the  army 
of  the  rebellion  with  men.  Methodist  Chaplains  North  used 
to  pray  for  Abraham  Lincoln  and  the  success  of  the  Union 
armies,  while  Methodist  Chaplains  South  were  praying  with  all 
their  might  for  Jeff.  Davis  and  the  armed  rebels. 

How  stands  the  case  now  between  the  two  Churches? 
The  great  procuring  cause  of  the  division  is  removed. 
Slavery  divided  the  Church,  and  slavery  is  dead.  It  is  per- 
fectly logical  to  say,  that  when  the  cause  of  division  is  removed, 
division  should  cease  and  harmony  be  restored.  Judging  from 
the  action  of  the  Church  South,  both  in  her  general  and  an- 
nual conferences,  we  see  but  little  hope  of  a  reunion  of  the  two 
churches.  But  what  else  could  we  expect,  when  we  consider 
that  the  men  who  composed  these  conferences  are  rebels,  burn- 
ing with  all  their  old  hate  to  the  Church  North,  intensified  by 
four  years'  fighting?  There  are  two  things  that  will  greatly 
modify  the '  asperity  of  the  Church  South  in  its  relations  with 
the  old  Church,  and  that  within  comparatively  few  3'ears.  1. 
The  reorganization  of  society  in  the  South  will  do  much  in 
this  direction.  The  tide  of  emigration  from  the  North  will 
gradually  flow  into  all  the  Southern  States.  The  whole  social 
condition  of  the  people,  under  the  new  order  of  things,  will  be 
changed,  and  with  it  will  gradually  die  out  southern  hate. 
It  may  be  a  process  of  years,  but  it  will  come.  2.  If  the  rebel 
leaders  in  Church  and  State  manage  to  keep  their  necks  out  of 
the  halter,  under  the  unwise  policy  of  Andrew  Johnson,  they 


MR.  ferry's  essay.  207 

will  soon  pass  off  the  stage  under  the  omnipotent  decree  of  the 
Great  Ruler  of  the  Universe,  and  their  .successors  will  grow  up 
with  opinions  greatly  modified  under  the  new  order  of  things. 
Starting  with  these  premises,  I  maintain  that  a  reunion  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  North  and  South,  is  not  only  pos- 
sible, but  probable,  at  no  very  distant  day  ;  for  time  works  out 
wonderful  changes  sometimes  in  a  few  years.  As  New  Eng- 
land Methodists,  let  us  be  firm,  decided,  and  unwavering  in  our 
fidelity  to  the  church  of  our  choice.  Let  us  support  her  in 
maintaining  the  high  position  she  has  assumed,  that  if  con- 
cessions are  hereafter  made,  they  must  come  from,  and  not  be 
made  to,  conquered  rebels,  either  in  Church  or  State. 

Mr.  President,  it  is  truly  wonderful  to  look  back  over  the 
past  five  years  and  see  how  kindly  God  has  dealt  with  us  as  a 
nation  ;  how,  in  the  gloomiest,  darkest  hours  of  the  rebellion, 
when  we  were  willing  to  do  right,  he  would  stretch  out  his  om- 
nipotent arm  and  turn  the  tide  of  battle  in  our  favor.  He  who 
cannot  see  God  in  history,  during  the  terrible  conflict  from 
which  we  are  just  emerging,  must  be  worse  than  an  infidel. 
The  war  is  over,  but,  as  a  nation,  we  are  not  3-et  out  of  danger. 
Things  sometimes  look  gloomy  and  forbidding,  but  I  have  faith 
in  God  that  all  will  come  out  right.  This  mighty  people  has 
not  yet  worked  out  its  manifest  destiny  on  the  earth.  I  see 
in  the  dim  future  a  people's  empire,  stretching  from  ocean  to 
ocean,  and  from  the  Gulf  to  the  inland  seas  of  the  North.  I 
listen,  and  from  not  a  single  foot  of  this  broad,  expansive  ter- 
ritory do  I  hear  the  clanking  chains  of  slavery,  or  the  sharp 
crack  of  the  slave-driver's  whip.     It  is  all — 

"  The  land  of  the  free, 
And  the  home  of  the  brave." 

Rev.  W.  D.  Malcom,  of  the  Vermont  Conference,  was,  at 
his  request,  excused  from  reading  the  essay  that  had  been 
assigned  to  him. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  Essay,  President  Claflix  an- 
nounced that  it  had  just  been  decided  by  the  Joint  Com- 
mittee having  that  matter  in  charge,  to  locate  the  Concord 
Biblical  Institute  in  the  city  of  Boston,  or  within  three 


208  METHODIST   CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

miles  of  the  State  House  ;  and  also  that  the  Rev.  Wi£.  F. 
Warren,  now  in  Germany,  had  definitely  accepted  his  ap- 
pointment as  one  of  its  Professors.  The  announcement 
was  received  with  many  earnest  expressions  of  enthusiasm 
by  the  Convention. 

The  Business  Committee  offered  the  following  resolu- 
tions, as  their  report,  in  part,  which  were  adopted  :  — 

Resolved,  1.  That  in  the  great  prosperity'  of  the  Church,  nu- 
merically and  financially,  there  is  a  natural  danger  of  our  depart- 
ure from  the  meekness  and  simplicit}'  of  the  gospel,  and  we  no- 
tice with  pain  a  growing  tendency  among  us  in  that  direction  : 
Therefore,  we  urge  upon  our  ministry  and  laity  the  most  vigor- 
ous and  prayerful  effort  to  return  to  the  modesty  and  simplicity 
of  dress  and  personal  equipage  enjoined  by  St.  Paul. 

2.  That  a  kind,  but  firm  and  vigorous  discipline  is  absolutely 
necessary  to  preserve  the  Church  from  worldliness  and  decay  ; 
and  never  more  so  than  now.  All  ecclesiastical  history  shows 
that  here  begin  church  backsliding  and  corruption.  Therefore 
it  becomes  us  as  a  Church  to  watch  with  sleepless  vigilance  our 
own  driftings  in  this  direction. 

3.  That  in  view  of  the  importance  of  the  timely  collection 
and  proper  arrangement  of  historical  facts  and  data,  we  recom- 
mend the  establishment  for  that  purpose  of  a  permanent  His- 
torical and  Statistical  Board  for  New  England ;  that  Rev. 
Daniel  Dorchester,  Wm.  C.  Brown,  Esq.,  Rev.  S.  W.  Cogges- 
hall,  D.  D.,  Benjamin  Pitman,  Esq.,  Rev.  Eleazer  Smith,  Dr. 
Wm.  Prescott,  Rev.  A.  G.  Button,  A.  J.  Willard,  Esq.,  Rev. 
Asahel  Moore,  Dr.  E.  Clark,  Rev.  E.  A.  Helmershausen,  and 
Hon.  Charles  Beale,  be  invited  to  serve  in  that  capacity  until 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Conferences  ;  and  that  at  their  next 
ensuing  session  each  of  the  New  England  Conferences  be  re- 
quested to  annually  appoint  one  minister  and  one  layman  to 
serve  on  such  Board,  —  which  bod}T,  so  constituted,  shall  ap- 
point its  own  officers  and  make  its  own  bj'-laws. 

4.  That  this  Convention  commend  the  claims  of  our  noble 
marine  to  the  prayerful  consideration  of  American  Methodists, 
and  especially  ask  her  ministry  and  episcopacy  to  devise  lib- 
eral things  for  their  s."^\ttion. 


RESOLUTIONS.  209 

5.  That  without  at  all  weakening  or  embarrassing  our  con- 
nectional  principle,  it  is  our  opinion  that  much  more  might  be 
done  to  organize  and  develop  the  individuality  and  strength  of 
the  local  societies.  We  think  it  would  be  well  to  have  occa- 
sional business  meetings  of  the  whole  church,  and  thai  Buch 
gatherings  of  the  whole  society  could  act,  directly  or  through 
appropriate  committees,  efficiently  on  the  financial  and  other 
interests  of  the  church.  "We  also  think  it  would  be  well  for  the 
General  Conference  to  provide  that  the  Stewards  of  the  several 
societies  shall  be  elected  by  the  whole  church,  instead  of  the 
present  method. 

G.  That  we  are  highly  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  our 
Book  and  Periodical  business  is  conducted  in  New  England. 
We  are  glad  to  learn  that  the  Boston  Wesleyan  Association 
have  obtained  an  act  of  incorporation,  and  commenced  the  ac- 
cumulation of  a  fund  for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  suitable 
building  in  the  city  of  Boston  for  the  occupancy  of  the  Book 
Depositoiy  and  *'Zion's  Herald"  office,  and  as  a  denomina- 
tional headquarters.  To  such  an  object  we  pledge  our  hearty 
co-operation,  and  we  hope  the  project  will  be  consummated  in 
season  to  properly  designate  it  the  a  Centenary  Building." 

7.  That  we  heartily  welcome  the  movement  of  our  last  Gen- 
eral Conference,  the  subsequent  invitation  given  by  the  Central 
(or  General)  Centenary  Committee,  and  the  Erie  resolutions  of 
the  Episcopal  Board,  which  contemplate  the  co-operation  and 
ultimate  reunion  of  all  branches  of  the  Methodist  family  in 
America,  upon  the  loyal  and  anti-slavery  platform  of  the  Dis- 
cipline of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  And  Ave  hail  with 
pleasure  the  response  given  to  these  initiative  movements  from 
the  late  Cincinnati  Convention  of  United  Methodists,  by  the 
appointment  of  a  Committee  to  address  our  bishops  on  the  sub- 
ject of  a  general  Methodist  unity,  —  a  consummation  most  de- 
voutly to  be  wished  for,  and  a  result  eminently  in  harmony 
with  this  grand  memorial  year. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 

Whereas,  It  is  obvious  to  this  Convention  that  the  religious 
instruction  of  children  by  their  parents  is,  to  an  alarming  extent, 
neglected  within  our  borders  ;  and 


210  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

Whereas,  The  Sabbath-schools  of  the  Church  are  not  so  far 
succeeding  as  to  give  our  youth  a  permanent  and  sufficient 
knowledge  of  the  doctrines  and  duties  of  the  gospel.  There- 
fore 

Resolved,  1.  That  we  regard  the  instruction  of  the  .young  in 
the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and  by  the  use  of  "sound  words" 
to  be  treasured  in  the  memory,  —  such  as  the  Lord's  Prayer,  the 
Ten  Commandments,  'the  Apostles'  Creed,  the  Catechisms  of 
the  Church,  etc.,  —  as  indispensable  to  the  salvation  of  our  chil- 
dren, and  the  future  growth  and  permanenc}<  of  Methodism  in 
this  land  ;  and  that  valuable  as  the  Sabbath-school  may  be  for 
the  instruction  of  the  children  of  the  unconverted,  and  an  aid 
to  parental  teaching,  it  was  never  designed  to  supersede  family 
instruction  in  the  things  of  Christ ;  and  to  abandon  the  latter 
for  the  former  is  fraught  with  the  most  disastrous  conse- 
quences. 

2.  That  we  respectfully  request  our  Tract  Society  to  secure, 
either  by  offering  a  prize  or  otherwise,  a  powerful  appeal  to  our 
people  upon  this  subject,  to  be  printed  in  tract  form  for  gratui- 
tous circulation  ;  and  we  believe  that  pastors  of  churches  should 
preach  especially  upon  this  subject,  and  urge  upon  our  people 
the  importance  of  personally  instructing  their  children  in  divine 
things,  and  in  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church'. 

3.  That  a  more  perfect  acquaintance  with  the  Lord's  Praj'er, 
the  Ten  Commandments,  the  Apostles'  Creed,  and  our  Church 
Catechism  should  be  sought  in  our  Sabbath-schools,  rather  than 
social  entertainments. 

4.  That  the  importance  of  the  Sabbath-school  work  demands 
more  time  than  is  usually  given  to  it  in  our  New  England 
churches. 

5.  That  such  a  change  of  our  Sabbath  services  as  shall  secure 
this  result  is  plainly  indicated  by  the  general  conviction  of  Sab- 
bath-school laborers  as  the  best  and  wisest  polic}*  in  fact,  and 
that  we  should  endeavor  to  educate  the  people  to  this  result. 

6.  That,  in  the  judgment  of  this  Convention,  the  regular  at- 
tendance of  the  members  of  our  Sabbath-schools  upon  the  pub- 
lic services  of  the  sanctuary  is  so  vital  to  the  welfare  of  our 


REV.    BIB.    8TUBB8'   8PEE0H.  211 

children,   and   the   present   and   prospective   interests  of  the 

Church,  thai  we  cannot  too  strongly  urge  this  Bubjecl  upon  the 
Immediate  practiced  attention  of  all  our  ministers  and  laymen 
in  New  England. 

Pending  the  adoption  of  the  foregoing  resolutions,  on 
motion  of  F.  Rand,  Esq.,  Rev.  R.  S.  Stubbs,  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Conference.,  was  called  upon  to  oiler  some 
remarks  on  the  fourth  resolution.  Bro.  S.  proceeded  to 
address  the  Convention  as  follows  :  — 

Mr.  Chairman,  Members  of  the  Convention,  and  Friends,  — 
I  deeply  feel  1113'  personal  insignificance  at  this  time  ;  I  can  but  ap- 
peal, therefore,  to  the  magnitude  and  grandeur  of  the  interest  I  ad- 
vocate to  commend  my  words  to  your  favorable  consideration. 

Nearly  three  fourths  of  the  earth's  surface  is  covered  with  water, 
apparently  an  arid  waste, — to  barbaric  eyes,  a  formidable  barrier 
to  all  outside  intercourse  ;  to  the  ancient  Egyptians,  "  an  unclean 
thing  ;  "  according  to  Plato,  "  the  schoolmate  of  all  vice  and  dis- 
honesty ;  "  to  the  elegant  Greek,  u  an  abyss  ;  "  but  in  the  esteem 
of  Jehovah,  "  very  good."  Science  teaches  that  "  the  sea  is  the 
great  fertilizer  of  the  land,  the  equalizer  of  heat,  and  the  regulator 
of  climate,"  and  Inspiration  teaches  that  which  History  confirms, 
namely,  that  the  world's  evangelization  must  be  accelerated 
or  impeded  in  the  ratio  that  the  world's  marine  is  or  is  not 
sanctified  ;  so  that  the  purport  of  this  resolution  cannot  cease 
to  claim  the  serious  consideration  of  the  Church  of  God.  The 
earliest  records  of  the  Church  teach  us  that  the  sea  rendered 
her  efficient  service,  and  afforded  her  a  refuge  when  the  anger 
of  the  Lord  swept  the  earth  with  its  desolating  breath.  Noah, 
"  a  preacher  of  righteousness,"  the  only  surviving  shipmaster  of 
his  times,  was  the  divinely-appointed  custodian  of  morals,  the- 
ology, and  religion,  —  the  only  visible  head  and  high-priest  of  the 
Church  of  God  ;    in  this  instance,  navigator  and  priest  were 

dentical,  sailor  and  Christian  were  synonymous.  AY  hen  God 
endued  Solomon  with  the  wisdom  requisite  to  build  him  a 
temple,  and.  through  an  alliance  with  the  King  of  Tyre,  secured 
for  him  the  co-operation  of  cunning  artificers  and  craftsmen,  the 


212  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

materials  prepared  by  their  skill  in  the  forests  of  Lebanon,  and 
in  the  quarries  of  Zaredatha,  must  forever  have  remained  there 
but  for  the  service  rendered  by  "  Hiram's  shipmen." 

In  laying  the  foundations  of  the  Christian  Church,  the 
Messiah  exhibited  a  kind  of  divine  predilection  for  the  men  of 
the  sea  as  peculiarly  choice  instruments  for  that  great  work, — 
and  "  the}'  immediately  left  the  ship  and  their  father  and  fol- 
lowed him."  Of  "  the  twelve  "  chosen  by  him,  seven  of  the  first 
eight  named  were  fishermen  ;  Peter,  Andrew,  James,  John,  and 
Philip  were  of  the  tribe  of  Naphthali,  and  Nathaniel  and  Mat- 
thew were  of  the  tribe  of  Zebulon  (see  Matt.  iv.  12-22  ;  comp. 
Gen.  xlix.  13  and  21,  and  Isa.  lx.  5).  And  in  this  selection 
there  was  not  only  a  remarkable  fulfilment  of  some  of  the  most 
ancient  and  most  sublime  prophecies,  but  there  was  also  a  sug- 
gestion to  the  Church  in  all  ages  to  look  well  to  the  men  of  the 
sea ;  for,  in  the  language  of  Isaiah,  "  When  the  multitude  of 
the  sea  is  converted  to  God,  then  the  forces  of  the  Gentiles 
shall  come  unto  Thee." 

The  question,  Who  gave  this  American  continent  to  civiliza- 
tion and  Christianity  ?  admits  of  but  one  answer,  —  The  men  of 
the  sea.  By  whom  was  the  continental  army  sustained  when  the 
colonies  were  wrested  from  kingly  usurpation  and  secured  to 
constitutional  freedom?  The  men  of  the  sea.  T>y  whom  was 
Jeff.  Davis'  slaveholding,  woman-whipping,  child-selling,  man- 
enslaving,  liberty-hating  Confederacy  cut  in  two,  and  its 
Atlantic  broadside  crushed  in?  Echo  replies,  The  men  of  the 
sea,  under  the  lead  of  such  naval  heroes  as  Commodores  Foote, 
Porter,  Farragut ;  Admirals  Dupont  and  Stringham  ;  Captains 
Worden  and  Winslow,  and  Lieutenants  Cushing  and  Boggs,  — 
these  men  vindicated  the  righteousness  of  our  cause,  and  every- 
where maintained  the  honor  of  our  flag. 

At  this  point  the  inquiry  is  pertinent,  What  is  being  done  for 
the  men  of  the  sea  by  the  American  churches  ? 

Of  the  world's  marine,  consisting  of  nearly  3,000,000  souls, 
300,000  belong  to  the  United  States.  Of  seamen  from  all  parts 
of  the  globe,  it  is  computed  that  100,000  enter  the  harbor  of 
New  York  annually.  Six  thousand  of  this  number  constitute 
the  seafaring  portion  of  the  floating  population  of  New  York 


BET.    MB.    STUBBS'   SPEECH.  213 

and  Brooklyn,  and  for  their  particular  accommodation  there 
arc,  of  mission  stations  and  bethels,  fifteen  places  that  invite 
the  sailor  to  hear  the  Word  of  God. 

B}r  all  the  religious  bodies  in  the  United  States,  about 
$150,(K)0  are  contributed  for  the  religious  culture  of  seamen. 
To  this  amount  we  will  add  $100,000,  which  will  probably  cover 

all  donations  for  the  same  purpose,  not  mentioned  in  the  pub- 
lished reports ;  yet  even  then  we  have  less  than  a  dollar  per 
annum  for  the  religious  culture  of  each  American  sailor! 

Of  this  amount,  probably  one  sixth  ($250,000)  is  furnished 
by  our  own  denomination,  }-et  not  one  tenth  of  the  bethels  in 
America  sail  under  Methodist  bunting  !  In  other  words,  about 
one  half  of  the  money  contributed  by  Methodists  for  bethel 
purposes  is  invested  annually  in  Calvinistic  theology,  Calvin- 
istic  bethels,  and  Calvinistic  chaplains ! 

Now,  it  is  a  fact  that,  in  the  providence  of  God,  bethel  labors 
were  inaugurated  by  Zebulon  Rogers,  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church,  and  were  carried  forward  b}'  Methodists  for  nearly 
three  years  before  any  other  Church  entered  this  field  of 
Christian  endeavor.  Another  fact  is  equally  a  matter  of  his- 
toric interest  to  us  as  a  denomination  ;  the  bethel  flag,  that 
now  floats  in  eveiy  clime,  and  greets  the  storm-tossed  Christian 
mariner  in  man}-  a  foreign  port,  —  that  blessed  flag  was  devised 
by  Zebulon  Rogers,  and  the  first  bethel  flag  ever  kissed  by  the 
breath  of  a  propitious  heaven  was  made  by  his  sister.  On 
the  2od  of  March,  1817,  a  little  company  of  Methodists,  assem- 
bled on  board  the  "Zephyr,"  of  South  Shields,  Captain  Ilind- 
hulph,  on  the  river  Thames,  hoisted  this  first  bethel  flag  to  the 
mast-head.  Thus,  as  a  denomination,  we  are  identified,  by  the 
openings  of  Providence,  and  by  the  records  of  history,  with 
bethel  labors ;  and  why  we  should  have  deserted  this  interest- 
ing field,  to  be  tilled  by  other  hands,  is  beyond  my  comprehen- 
sion. The  sociability,  spirituality,  and  flexibility  of  Methodism 
peculiarl}'  adapts  it  for  and  commends  it  to  the  affection  and 
necessities  of  seamen. 

With  many  thanks  to  the  Convention  for  this  indulgence,  I 
earnestly  beseech  you  to  take  home  to  your  hearts  the  religious 
welfare  of  the  sailor.     Before  I  take  niy  seat,  I  must  express 


214  METHODIST    CENTENARY   CONTENTION. 

my  regret  that  our  venerable  Father  Taylor,  the  eloquent  friend 
of  seamen,  whose  loving,  melting  gospel-appeals  have  led  thou- 
sands of  seafaring  men  to  Christ,  —  I  say  I  can  but  regret  that 
the  infirmities  of  age  compel  him  to  retire  from  active  work, 
and  make  it  imprudent  for  him  to  be  present  at  this  hour,  to 
electrify  our  souls  by  his  thrilling  appeals  in  behalf  of  this  large 
and  interesting  class  of  men.  May  the  great  Head  of  the  Church 
cheer  his  declining  hours,  and  bless  his  estimable  wife,  —  a  true 
mother  to  the  sons  of  the  ocean,  —  and  raise  up  many  laborers 
as  devoted  and  indefatigable  as  they  have  been  ;  then  will  the 
halcyon  days  come  when  the  sailor  shall  no  longer  utter  the  mel- 
ancholy wail,  "  Refuge  faileth  me  ;  no  man  careth  for  my  soul." 

Rev.  Dr.  John  W.  Chickering,  Agent  of  the  Suffolk  Tem- 
peraace  Alliance,  being  on  the  platform,  and  invited  to  ad- 
dress the  Convention,  arose  and  spoke  as  follows  :  — 

I  am  very  sensible,  Mr.  Chairman,  of  the  kindness  shown 
me,  and  the  honor  done  me,  in  allowing  me  to  stand  on  this 
platform,  and  sa}^  "  Amen  "  to  that  clause  of  the  Address  you 
have  adopted,  which  relates  to  Temperance,  —  Christian  tem- 
perance, religious  temperance. 

Temperance  is  a  matter  of  duty  to  God,  because  God  made 
humanity.  I  felt  that  I  did  wish  to  represent  a  Christian  tem- 
perance organization  here,  and  having  the  delightful  satisfac- 
tion of  working  with  Methodist  brethren  in  the  management, 
and  in  the  services  of  the  Suffolk  Temperance  Union,  and  as- 
sisting them  in  their  pulpits,  I  felt  that  I  should  be  very  glad 
to  thank  them  for  the  kind  sympathy  which  the3T  have  shown, 
not  to  the  cause  merely,  but  to  me,  as  representative  of  that 
cause.  I  told  my  Congregational  brethren,  the  other  day,  in 
the  closing  meeting  of  the  great  "  Anniversary  Week,"  that  I 
had  had  these  special  opportunities  of  being  with  brethren  of 
other  denominations,  and  found  them  emphatically  of  one 
heart ;  and  I  come  to  }tou  with  the  same  interest.  We  are 
getting  more  and  more  religious,  more  and  more  Christian ; 
therefore,  less  and  less  sectarian.  I  don't  think  that  these 
bars  are  getting  any  lower ;  perhaps  we  are  putting  on  a  rail 


.     REV.    DB.    OmOKBBING'fi    SPEECH.  215 

now  and  then  ;  but  we  are  getting  taller,  and  our  hearts  are  up 
nearer  our  heads.  Hope  3*011  won't  entirely  annihilate  as,  fur 
I  am  of  a  family  of  five  generations  of  ministers. 

It  won't  do  to  puff  you  now.  You  are  taking  a  position,  and 
becoming  a  power  in  the  land  very  fast.  Now,  the  truth  is,  as 
to  welcoming  you,  there  is  not  much  use  to  say  that,  for  you 
will  come,  whether  or  no  !  [Laughter.]  I  think  we  preach  a 
good  deal  alike.  I  don't  hear  anything  that  I  call  heresy.  I 
have  preached  for  the  Methodists  a  good  deal,  and  they  have 
not  told  me  that  they  have  discovered  anything  in  my  preach- 
ing that  is  heterodox.  But  there  is  one  thing  sure  :  we  pray 
alike,  and  it  is  so  in  regard  to  the  singing  ;  and  I  think  that 
when  we  get  up  there,  we  shall  shout  alike.     ["  Aniens."] 

And  as  to  the  tenure  of  the  ministry,  we  arc  getting  very 
near  alike  ;  as  we  are  getting  so  short,  and  you  are  getting  so 
long  in  that  matter.  [Applause.]  I  remained  thirty  years 
with  one  people,  and  I  have  spoiled  them,  so  that  they  can't 
get  another  minister ;  and  I  sometimes  wish  I  was  a  bishop, 
and  then  I  could  give  them  a  minister.  [Laughter.]  In  re- 
gard to  the  bishops,  I  must  allow  myself  to  say  one  word : 
that  I  gave  you  a  little  extra  credit,  and  more  than  you  de- 
serve. I  sat  here  last  evening,  just  as  I  arrived  in  the  meet- 
ing, and  didn't  know  who  you  had  here.  And  I  heard  a  gen- 
tleman introduced  as  your  "  beloved  Bishop."  And  when  the 
gentleman  was  almost  finishing,  I  said  to  myself,  "  Well, 
really,  I  don't  know  about  that  great  orator.  Bishop  Simpson, 
I've  heard  of;  if  he  beats  this  man,  I'd  like  to  see  him." 
[Tremendous  applause.] 

I  will  just  say,  I  have  brought  here  a  thousand  copies  of  the 
report  of  the  organization,  in  which  your  dear  brother-,  Mr. 
Sleeper,  and  Mr.  Dunn,  are  official  managers  and  auxiliary  la- 
borers in  our  Christian  Temperance  movement,  which  we  are 
trying  to  carry  on  in  the  Church,  and  out  of  the  Church,  and 
with  the  divine  help  of  the  Lord.  I  sat  here,  a  week  ago  to- 
night, and  saw  a  dear,  excellent  brother  sitting  in  front.  I 
retired  into  an  ante-room  for  business  ;  and  soon  after,  that 
brother's  bod}'  was  carried  into  another  ante-room,  and  his 
spirit  had  gone  to  God  who  gave  it. 


216  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

May  God  grant  that,  if  we  be  not  living  at  the  second  Con- 
vention yon  have  been  speaking  of,  whilst  they  shall  come  with 
glad  rejoicings  on  that  day,  we  who  have  gone  may  be  looking 
down,  smiling  to  hear  it,  yet  feeling  so  thankful  that  we  were 
not  spared,  but  gone  up  higher  to  be  with  the  Lord. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Warren,  of  the  New  England  Conference, 
from  the  Business  Committee,  read  the  following  resolu- 
tions, which  were  adopted  :  — 

STATE  OF  THE  COUNTRY  AND  THE  CHURCH. 

Resolved,  1.  That  since  the  righteous  judgments  of  a  just 
God  have  purged  us  from  the  fact  of  slavery,  the  most  solemn 
duty  of  the  Church  and  State  is  to  extirpate  the  last  vestige  of 
its  deadly  virus  from  its  midst. 

2.  That  this  demands  that  the  State  make  its  citizens  of 
tried  loyalty,  the  sole  depository  of  its  powers  ;  that  the  ballot, 
as  the  chief  support  of  the  State,  be  granted  to  those  only  who 
will  maintain  the  constitutional  government,  regardless  of  any 
contingency,  and  that  it  is  our  profound  conviction  that  Con- 
gress should  allow  no  State  that  has  been  in  rebellion  to  be 
again  represented  in  its  councils,  till  such  State  gives  its  ballot 
impartially  to  loyal  men,  regardless  of  color  or  race. 

3.  That  all  schemes  of  reconstruction,  not  based  on  the 
principles  of  eternal  justice  and  equal  rights,  are  delusions 
dangerous,  and  may  be  fatal ;  and  for  the  support  of  Congress 
in  the  exercise  of  its  high  perogatives,  we  pledge  the  earnest 
prayers  and  the  whole  moral  influence  of  the  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  churches  we  represent. 

4.  That  the  spirit  and  practical  working  of  caste  is  detri- 
mental to  men,  and  abhorrent  to  God,  and  therefore  our 
Church  should  instantly  and  forever  abolish  all  distinctions 
based  thereon,  and  never  allow  their  introduction  into  any  or- 
ganizations or  movements  in  the  Southern  field. 

5.  That  we  regret  the  late  untimely  movements  looking  to  a 
re-union  with  the  Southern  Methodist  Church,  except  in  so  far 
as  the}'  revealed  the  animus  of  the  parties,  and  that  we  com- 
mend the  course,  in  this  respect,  of  the  editor  of  our  own 


COMMITTEE    ON    PUBLICATION.  217 

organ,  the  "  Zion's  Herald,"  and  that  of  the  editor  of  the  chief 
official  journal  of  the  Church,  as  eminently  wise  ;  as  agreeable 

to  the  convictions  of  New  England  ;  as  consistent  with  the  oft- 
repeated  declarations  of  the  Church  in  General  Conference  as- 
sembled ;  which  declarations  we  believe  she  will  3'et  more  em- 
phatically assert  at  her  next  session. 

G.  That  we  endorse  the  South  Carolina  Conference,  because, 
faithful  among  the  faithless,  it  has,  first  of  all,  successfully 
vindicated  the  only  Christian  policy  of  no  invidious  distinctions 
among  brethren. 

7.  That  we  hereby  tender  our  hearty  thanks  to  Bros.  T.  AVil- 
lard  Lewis  and  A.  Webster,  because,  as  members  of  the  Con- 
ferences of  New  England,  in  the  midst  of  great  difficulties  and 
dangers,  they  have  been  true  to  these  principles  of  their  fathers 
and  their  God. 

8.  That  we  approve  of  the  establishment  of  the  Baker  Insti- 
tute, and  hope  that  a  seminary  may  be  specdiry  established, 
equally  open  to  every  one  desirous  of  knowledge,  and  be  the 
nucleus  of  a  university  based  on  the  same  broad  Christian 
foundation. 

9.  That  we  especially  approve  of  the  establishment,  as  soon 
as  practicable,  of  a  paper  under  the  auspices  of  that  Confer- 
ence, which  shall  advocate  equal  rights  in  Church  and  State, 
and  be  the  organ  of  a  pure  and  perfect  civilization  and 
religion. 

The  Committee  on  Publication  presented  their  report. 
The  Convention,  on  motion,  authorized  the  Committee  to 
publish  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention  in  a  bound 
volume  —  and  a  Committee  to  superintend  the  printing 
was  appointed,  consisting  of  Revs.  E.  A.  Manning  and 
George  Prentice,  and  Messrs.  J.  P.  Magee  and  P.  Rand,  of 
the  New  England  Conference. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cooke,  of  the  Business  Committee,  moved  that, 
inasmuch  as  a  Convention  similar  to  this  may  be  desired  at 
some  future  time,  the  following  committee  be  appointed  to 
decide  on  some  basis  of  representation,  and  to  call  said 
Convention.     The  motion  prevailed. 


218  METHODIST   CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

Providence  Conference,  Rev.  Dr.  Patten,  TV.  B.  Lawton; 
New  England  Conference,  Rev.  L.  R.  Thayer,  G.  M.  But- 
trick  ;  Maine  Conference,  Rev.  C.  E.  Allen,  J.  J.  Perry  ; 
East  Maine  Conference,  Rev.  E.  A.  Helinershausen,  A.  S. 
Weed  ;  New  Hampshire  Conference,  Rev.  A.  C.  Manson, 
J.  B.  Chapman ;  Vermont  Conference,  Rev.  D.  P.  Hul- 
burd,  TV.  A.  Burnett;  New  York  East  Conference,  Rev. 
Dr.  Crooks ;  New  York  Conference,  C.  C.  North  j  Troy 
Conference,  Rev.  I.  G.  Bid  well. 

The  following  supplementary  resolutions  were  adopted : 

Resolved.  That  while  we  regret  the  absence  of  Bishop  Baker, 
we  heartily  rejoice  in  the  presence  of  Bishop  Simpson,  and  we 
hereb3T  extend  to  him  our  best  thanks  for  the  able  and  deeply 
interesting  address  of  last  evening. 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  True,  of  Boston,  be,  and  hereby  is,  re- 
spectfully requested  to  prepare  a  history  of  the  Biblical  Insti- 
tute at  Concord,  especially  in  reference  to  its  origin ;  and 
further,  that  he  be  requested  to  have  it  ready  and  read  it  at 
the  second  Convention  of  the  Methodist  ministers  and  laymen 
of  New  England. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be  offered  to 
the  Hon.  J.  J.  Perry,  for  the  able  and  interesting  essay  read 
by  him  this  afternoon,  on  the  Duty  of  New  England  to  the 
South. 

Resolved,  That  our  thanks  are  due  to  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements for  the  excellent  provisions  for  our  meeting ;  to 
our  honored  President  and  other  officers  of  the  Convention,  for 
their  assiduous  services  ;  to  the  Essayists  for  their  able  papers  ; 
to  the  people  of  Boston  and  vicinity  for  their  cordial  entertain- 
ment of  the  delegates  ;  and  to  the  railroad  corporations  and 
steamboat  companies  who  have  reduced  their  fares  to  our 
meeting. 

The  business  of  the  Convention  being  complete,  the 
President  arose  and  addressed  the  body  as  follows  :  — 

Brethren  of  the  Convention,  before  we  separate  I  wish  to 
return  you  my  thanks  for  the  very  distinguished  honor  you 


219 


have  done  me,  in  calling  me  to  preside  over  3-011  in  this  Con- 
vention ;  and  to  say  to  3*011  that,  in  the  vote  of  thanks  you 
have  passed  to  the  able  Committee,  and  the  thanks  you  have 
ottered  to  the  Secretaries  of  this  meeting,  3*011  have  dour  them 
no  more  than  justice.  Now,  as  we  are  about  to  separate,  to 
meet  as  a  Convention  no  more  on  earth ;  as  we  have  spent  so 
pleasant  a  time  in  the  review  of  the  past,  and  seeing  what 
great  things  God  has  clone  for  us,  how  wonderfully  the  polity 
we  represent  has  shown  its  power  in  the  salvation  of  men  ;  and 
as  we  take  our  places  among  the  great  churches  of  our  land, 
let  us  look  forward  in  imagination  to  that  great  meeting  which 
will  be  held,  not  in  this  hall,  but  in  some  appropriate  and  mag- 
nificent place  one  hundred  3*ears  hence,  when  our  children's 
children  will  there  assemble,  and  commemorate  the  great  ad- 
vance and  the  glories  which  will  attend  them  on  that  occasion. 

And  as  we  look  forward  to  that  time,  and  see  the  multitude 
gathered  there,  and  the  great  advances  in  prosperity  of  the 
county,  now  so  happily  united,  no  more  to  be  divided  03*  the 
hand  of  traitors  or  treason,  looking  forward  upon  a  hundred 
millions  of  men,  gathered  from  eveiy  nation  under  heaven, 
without  any  distinction  on  account  of  race  or  color,  there  to 
assemble  and  mingle  their  praises  to  God  that  they  are  accorded 
freedom  to  worship  him,  with  no  one  to  molest  or  make  afraid  ; 
I  say,  as  we  look  forward  to  this,  and  the3',  too,  look  back  to 
our  work  of  to-day  and  wonder,  perhaps,  at  our  simpleness  of 
conception,  at  the  various  questions  that  divided  us  to-da3r,  we 
may  look  forward  with  joy  and  a  feeling  that,  to  some  extent, 
we  have  done  our  duty. 

At  the  same  time  we  can  feel  that,  while  other  themes  may 
be  considered  by  them,  yet  they  will  not  be  more  fervent ;  that, 
as  the3r  sing  the  old  songs  which  we  have  sung  to-da3*,  they 
will  not  be  sung  with  a  more  spiritual  devotion,  with  a  fuller 
purpose  to  serve  the  Great  God,  our  Master,  nor  will  the3*  have 
a  more  earnest  desire  to  press  forward  the  work  committed  to 
their  hands. 

May  we  hope  that  in  that  great  day  there  will  be  no  more  of 
dissonance  or  want  of  harmony  in  that  Convention  than  there 
has  been  in  this  ;  and  they  see  that  we  have  met  here  to-day 


220  METHODIST   CENTENARY    CONVENTION. 

without  one  unkind  thought,  or  one  unpleasant  action,  as  I 
trust,  nor  one  unholy  motive  ;  that  we,  too,  were  animated  with 
that  desire  which  openeth  every  Christian  heart,  and  which  is 
the  great  principle  of  our  gospel. 

And  now,  my  friends,  as  I  take  leave  of  jtou,  as  j'ou  go  to 
your  various  homes,  I  tender  }7ou  my  sincere  hopes,  my  most 
sincere  prayer,  that  prosperity  may  attend  you  in  both  spiritual 
and  in  temporal  things.  I  bid  you  all,  in  behalf  of  the  Con- 
vention, adieu. 

We  will  sing,  before  the  benediction  is  pronounced,  the  Mis- 
sionary Hynm,  "  From  Greenland's  Icy  Mountain." 

Two  verses  were  sung,  and  the  benediction  was  pro- 
nounced by  Rev.  A.  D.  Sargent,  of  the  New  England  Con- 
ference, and  the  Convention  adjourned  sine  die. 


CENTENNIAL   FESTIVAL. 


CENTENNIAL  FESTIVAL  IN  MUSIC  HALL. 


The  New  England  Methodist  Episcopal  Convention, 
which,  for  the  last  three  days,  had  been  in  session  at  Tre- 
mont  Temple,  having  concluded  its  deliberations,  the  Cen- 
tenary Festival  took  place,  as  a  grand  finale,  Thursday 
evening,  June  7th,  at  the  Music  Hall.  The  Festival  was  a 
social  gathering,  and  not  designed  to  devise  means. and 
raise  funds  to  promote  the  great  enterprises  of  the 
churches,  which  have  been  determined  on  to  mark  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  establishment  of  Meth- 
odism in  America.  It  was,  in  point  of  numbers,  by  far 
the  greatest  event  of  the  kind  ever  witnessed  in  the  city 
of  Boston,  while,  in  social  pleasures  and  eloquent  ad- 
dresses, it  was  an  occasion  long  to  be  remembered  by 
those  who  were  so  fortunate  as  to  participate. 

After  listening  to  an  exhibition  of  the  powers  of  the 
Great  Organ,  by  J.  H.  Wilcox,  the  collation  was  served  at 
6  o'clock  by  J.  B.  Smith,  after  a  blessing  had  been  asked 
by  Rev.  A.  D.  Merrill. 

The  intellectual  feast  began  at  74  o'clock.  The  Chair- 
man, Hon.  Wm.  Claflin,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts, called  the  meeting  to  order,  and,  after  another 
organ  performance,  the  following  hymn,  written  for  the 
occasion  by  Rev.  George  Lansing  Taylor1,  was  sung,  to 
the  tune  of  "  Duke  Street "  :  — 

Great  God  of  Israel,  Lo,  to  thee 
Adoring  millions  bow  the  knee, 
And  bless  with  rapturous  shouts  and  tears, 
Thy  goodness  through  a  hundred  years  ! 


224  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

Since  first  our  sires  this  New  World  trod, 
What  wonders  hast  thou  wrought,  0  God ! 
A  nation  vast  from  sea  to  sea  ; 
A  church  whose  myriads  worship  thee  ! 

God  of  Elijah,  flash  thy  fire 
Responsive,  while  our  prayers  aspire, 
Till  hearts  and  holocausts  shall  flame 
A  sacrifice  to  Jesus'  name. 

Pour  forth  thy  spirit  from  on  high  ! 
Convert,  illumine,  sanctify  ! 
Till  millions  more,  with  Israel's  host, 
Praise  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost ! 

Prayer  was  then  made  by  Rev.  L.  R.  Thayer,  D.  D.,  of 
Boston. 

The  Chairman  pleasantly  alluded  to  the  fact  that  Meth- 
odists usually  held  a  watch  meeting  once  a  year,  and  he 
hoped  they  would  be  willing  to  stay  late  once  iu  a  hundred 
years. 

Letters  were  now  read,  by  Rev.  W.  F.  Mallalieu,  from 
several  distinguished  men  who  could  not  attend,  including 
Hon.  Chief  Justice  Chase,  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant,  Hon.  James 
Harlan,  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  Gov.  Dillingham,  of  Ver- 
mont, Senator  Willey,  of  West  Virginia,  Hon.  L.  Shella- 
barger,  M.  C,  etc. 

Rev.  Dr.  Jesse  T.  Peck,  of  California,  was  now  intro- 
duced. 

He  was  received  with  applause.  He  said  that  there  was  but 
one  place  in  the  world  where  he  would  rather  be  than  here ; 
that  was  on  the  deck  of  one  of  those  magnificent  Pacific  steam- 
ers, with  her  prow  turned  toward  the  Golden  City.  My  heart 
is  in  California,  and  yet  it  is  here,  too.  Methodism  is  at  pres- 
ent a  subject  or  profound  study.  Her  history  has  raised  prob- 
lems which  the  greatest  philosophers  have  unsuccessfully  en- 
deavored to  solve.  But  it  is  a  matter  of  great  importance 
that  we  understand  ourselves.  The  great  triumphs  of  Meth- 
odism have  come  from  inspiration.  Not  like  the  inspiration 
of  Moses,  when  he  received  the  table  of  stones  ;  rather  like  that 


THE    FESTIVAL.  225 

when  he  brake  them,  or  when  lie  delivered  his  valedictory,  his 

grand  farewell  charge,  to  the  children  of  Israel,  when  he  led 
them  through  the  wilderness,  but  must  leave  them.  Our  theo- 
logical system  is  one  of  the  inspirations.  Our  idea  of  the 
fallen  state  of  man  was  not  only  a  feeling  but  an  inspiration, 
—  an  experience,  —  so  with  our  belief  in  the  power  of  the 
atonement. 

It  would  not  be  surprising,  then,  that  this  spirit  should  ap- 
pear. Methodism  sings  in  its  heart.  The  words  don't  make 
much  difference.  I  am  almost  amused  sometimes  at  the  evi- 
dent contradiction  between  the  words  of  the  songs  and  feelings 
of  Christians.  So  in  regard  to  praying.  The  telegraph  is  an 
excellent  and  wonderful  invention,  but  our  people  had  an  elec- 
tric current  running  between  their  hearts  and  God  several 
3'ears  before  it  was  discovered. 

It  is  time  now  for  us  to  pause  a  little.  We  have  spent  a 
great  part  of  our  history  in  negative  work,  and.  are  now  just 
beginning  to  work  positively.  Slavery  was  a  tremendous  ob- 
stacle in  our  wa}'.  We  tried  the  logical  method,  but  it  failed. 
We  now  are  trying  inspiration,  which  says  "  Go  !  "  and  we  are 
now  on  our  way  to  the  Gulf,  and  shall  achieve  success. 

Isn't  it  clear  that  it  is  the  power  of  truth,  sent  through  the 
heart  by  religion,  that  has  built  churches?  Now,  suppose  we 
reverse  the  work,  build  the  churches  and  colleges  first.  This 
method  has  eveiywhere  failed.  Go  down  on  your  knees  first, 
and  let  the  churches  and  schools  come  from  spiritual  power. 

After  singing  the  727th  hymn,  to  the  tune  of  "  Laban," 
His  Excellency  Gov.  Bullock  was  introduced,  and  greet- 
ed with  prolonged  applause. 

ADDRESS  OF  GOVERNOR  BULLOCK. 

Mr.  President:  —  I  have  availed  myself  of  the  cordiality 
and  courtesy  of  your  invitation  to  partake  of  this  Christian 
Festival,  and  to  unite  with  you  in  welcoming  these  many 
friends  to  our  capital.  Though  not  myself  entitled  to  be 
ranked  as  one  of  }'Our  number,  unless  by  a  little  ecclesiastical 
strain  and  historical  labor  we  go  back  altogether  to  the  day  of 


226  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONTENTION. 

the  Wesle}-s,  John  and  Charles,  and  the  heavenl}7  Susanna, 
and  there  chip  out  a  tie  of  common  descent  from  the  tree  of 
your  episcopacy,  which  I  believe  you  do  not  discard  —  still  I 
should  be  unmindful  of  the  grand  spirit  of  liberality  which  has 
sheltered  so  many  Christian  sects  here  in  the  last  three  weeks, 
if  it  were  not  a  grateful  pleasure  to  me  to  make  one  heart  and 
one  cause  with  you  this  evening.  Many  are  the  notions  of 
this  Boston  of  ours,  but  it  is  one  of  the  best  of  them  all,  in  the 
fragrant  season  of  May  and  June,  to  swing  open  its  doors, 
public  and  private,  to  Christians  of  eveiy  name,  countrymen, 
brothers  and  sisters. 

But  laying  aside  the  sentiments  of  personal  attraction  which 
would  command  my  devout  respect  for  your  assembly,  I  catch 
from  the  history  30U  bear  on  your  banner,  and  from  the 
identity  you  sustain  with  American  national  life,  abundant 
reason  that,  as  a  patriotic  citizen  and  magistrate,  I  should  feel 
honored  in  the  opportunity  of  this  presence.  In  its  origin 
here,  in  its  members,  and  in  its  conduct,  as  a  lay  and  clerical 
bod}',  this  Church  has  claims  for  veneration  and  gratitude.  It 
has  proved  to  be  the  representative  bod}T  of  the  Commons  of 
the  United  States  in  the  cause  of  gospel  promulgation  of  Re- 
publican liberty.  As  a  Church,  never  at  rest,  and  at  no  time 
militant  save  against  the  principalities  and  powers  of  darkness, 
it  has  had  for  the  period  of  a  century  a  republican  national 
identit}',  drawing  its  first  breath  in  America  simultaneously 
with  that  of  her  liberty,  and  placing  the  beat  of  its  heart  side 
by  side  to  hers  until  now. 

I  do  not  forget  that  the  Methodist  Episcopal  life  in  this  hem- 
isphere began  with  the  independence  of  the  country,  —  that 
you  made  your  first  exultant  progress  contemporaneously  with 
the  advance  of  the  arms  of  the  Revolution,  scarcely  ten  years 
after  the  arrival  of  your  earliest  missionary  pioneers  from 
Great  Britain,  —  that  3-our  shining  guidon  moved  eveiwwhere 
conspicuouly  among  the  people,  and  cheered  on  the  columns  of 
our  fathers  as  the}T  marched  through  that  great  war.  The 
period  of  the  Revolution  was  the  field  on  which  the  sect  first 
unfurled  its  colors  and  united  them  with  the  colors  of  the  great 
teachers  and  leaders  of  a  new  faith  and  a  new  liberty  in  the 


THE    FESTIVAL.  227 

West.  An  ecclesiastical  organization  like  yours  could  not  as- 
pire to  a  higher  claim  for  public  respect,  than  that  which  comes 
from  having  broken  forth  upon  the  country  in  companionship 

with  the  inauguration  of  an  unwonted  civil  era  which  was  to 
change  the  prospects  of  mankind.  Out  of  all  that  has  come 
down  to  us  from  that  epoch  of  organic  change,  I  perceive  the 
identities  and  relations  of  a  common  renown  and  glory  to  your 
denomination  and  the  liberties  of  the  country.  It  was  a  great 
time  in  which  a  new  church  might  commence ;  it  was  equally 
great  for  a  new-born  administration  of  civil  empire,  having  the 
co-operation  and  fraternity  of  a  new  church.  It  was,  political- 
ly and  ecclesiastically,  equally  a  novelty  of  histoiy  and  a  di- 
vinity of  coincidence  ;  it  was  not,  as  often  happens,  a  prelimi- 
nary dawn,  introductory  and  preparatory  to  something  that 
might  follow,  but  it  was  the  breaking  out  in  the  splendor  of 
noon  of  a  free  Church  and  a  free  republic,  starting  together  on 
the  same  errand  of  human  destiny  and  human  beneficence. 
American  Methodism  and  American  Independence  started  hand 
in  hand  to  the  ridges  of  the  battle,  and  have  never  since  parted 
company. 

Thus  }Tour  organization  in  this  country  began,  and  thus  it 
has  continued.  And  so  it  has  been  a  representative  organiza- 
tion of  the  national  unity  and  life.  And  it  was  not  till  its  own 
unity  had  become  dissevered  by  wicked  hands,  that  the  friends 
of  national  disunion  took  courage.  When  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  became  divided  by  geographical  lines,  Northern 
and  Southern,  and  not  till  then,  Mr.  Calhoun  declared  in  the 
Senate  Chamber  that  the  nation  itself  must  fall  with  it.  That 
was  the  great  mistake  of  his  phrenzied  reasoning.  The  denom- 
ination, so  pervading  as  to  number  nearly  eight  millions  of  our 
people  in  its  ranks,  might  become  nominally  and  temporarily 
divided  ;  but  the  Union  of  States  never  !  You  accepted,  under 
the  necessities  of  the  case,  the  division  of  the  funds  ;  but  your 
better  and  greater  part  remained  steadfast  to  the  fathers  of 
Israel  and  to  the  prophets  of  humanity.  And  I  have  the  pub- 
lic testimony  of  the  late  President,  uttered  not  long  before  the 
night  of  his  martyrdom,  that  through  the  blood}'  trials  and 
sacrilices  of  the  war  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  sent  more 


228  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

soldiers  to  the  field,  more  nurses  to  the  hospitals,  and  more 
prayers  to  heaven,  than  any  other.  I  think  it  only  fair  to  say, 
however,  that  this  is  a  tribute  to  your  members  as  well  as  to 
your  zeal.  Honest  testinKnryfrom  one  of  the  noblest  of  mankind  ! 
How  fit  and  becoming,  and  religiously  graceful  it  was,  that, 
nearly  fifty  years  after  he  had  in  his  bo3'hood  sent  a  message 
over  broad  forest  spaces  to  a  Methodist  minister  to  come  and 
preach  the  funeral  sermon  over  his  mother's  grave,  one  of  }'Our 
own  bishops,  Mr.  Simpson,  should  be  invited  to  pronounce  the 
eulogy  over  his  grave  at  Springfield,  when  the  long,  weary  ova- 
tion of  death  was  over  ! 

And  now  it  is,  I  judge,  the  power  and  the  duty  of  your 
Church,  more  than  of  any  other,  to  help  cement  the  American 
Union,  which  has  not  been  lost,  by  ecclesiastical  divisions,  but 
has  been  saved  by  arms.  Your  opportunities  and  3'our  facili- 
ties for  that  sublime  service,  are  very  great  and  peculiar.  You 
can  reach  the  general  mind  and  heart  of  all  this  wide  dominion 
better  than  airy  other  power,  civil  or  religious.  Your  banner 
floats  over  the  commingled  ranks  of  life,  in  all  sections,  more 
freely  than  any  other.  Your  jurisdiction  has  scarcely  any  lim- 
itations, and  I  beseech  3*011  to  exercise  it,  for  truth,  and  free- 
dom, and  pacification,  over  the  living  masses  which  your 
Church  controls  almost  equally  in  the  North  and  in  the  South. 
I  do  not  ask  3'ou  to  help  us  to  the  alliance  of  the  colored  race  ; 
their  instincts  make  them  our  allies.  I  only  ask  that,  with  the 
middle  interest  of  the  whites,  whom  3-ou  most  of  all  can  influ- 
ence and  control,  3*ou  will  make  the  glorious  liberty  of  the 
Methodism  of  1776  the  benignant  equality  and  triumph  of 
1866. 

Pardon  me  if  I  sa3T  that  out  of  the  adaptations  of  the  Amer- 
ican Methodist  Church  we  may  derive  its  responsibilities. 
This  religious  organization  has  had  an  historical  adaptation  for 
the  life  and  necessities  of  Western  growth.  It  has  shown  itself 
to  be  the  greatest  character  in  the  performance  of  the  last  act 
of  the  world's  drama,  as  described  by  Bishop  Berkley  —  the 
completion  of  the  history  of  the  world  in  the  nation  of  the 
West.  It  appreciates  and  appropriates  the  characteristics  of 
the  country.     It  is  diffusive,  aggressive,  and   kindly.     It  is 


THE    FESTIVAL.  220 

sympathetic  in  nature  and  in  societ}\  It  has  at  all  times  in- 
voked and  employed  the  simplicities  of  a  new  country,  and  has 
erected  its  temples  and  canopies  amid  her  pines  and  oaks.  Its 
ecclesiastical  machinery  has  all  the  harmonies  of  a  religious  re* 
publicanism.  It  is  a  modern  American  church,  and  can  do 
more  for  our  present  America  than  any  other.  I  bid  you  joy 
over  your  present  denominational  successes  j  and  I  hold  you 
largely  responsible  to  restore  our  country  to  the  ancient  ways, 
and  to  plant  her  standard  upon  everlasting  truth  and  justice. 

ADDRESS    OF   REV.    MR.    HATFIELD. 

The  next  speaker,  Rev.  Robert  M.  Hatfield,  of  Chicago, 
in  considering  the  period,  the  era  which  the  denomination  had 
reached,  referred  to  the  wide-spread  influences  of  Methodism, 
stating  that  in  the  army  and  among  the  men  who  did  the  fight- 
ing, he  found  as  many  Methodists  as  *of  all  other  denomina- 
tions put  together.  It  might  seem  astonishing  at  first,  but  the 
philosophy  of  the  fact  wras  that  our  Church  always  dealt  with 
the  masses.  The  war  for  justice,  for  humanity,  for  liberty,  for 
God,  took  hold  of  God-fearing  men,  and  that  was  the  reason 
why,  from  that  class,  men,  by  thousands,  turned  their  faces 
towards  the  battle-field,  and,  by  thousands,  sealed  their  devo- 
tion to  the  old  flag  with  their  blood.  The  country,  he  said, 
cannot  spare  us.  AVe  have  finished  this  work,  but  we  are  not 
done  with  the  struggle.  He  was  not  about  to  make  a  plea  for 
their  right  to  exist  as  a  denomination,  but  to  sa}r  a  few  words 
on  the  importance  of  maintaining  their  denominational  pecu- 
liarities. Apologizing  to  members  of  other  denominations  who 
might  be  present,  for  urging  his  belief  in  the  superiority  of 
Methodism,  on  the  ground  that  the  meeting  was  a  family  gather- 
ing, and  that  if  they  had  any  right  to  exist  as  a  denomination, 
the)'  had  a  right  to  maintain  their  peculiarities.  Ho  believed 
the  success  of  Methodism,  under  God,  to  have  depended  very 
largely  on  its  distinctive  doctrines,  and  on  the  force,  zeal,  and 
frequenc}-  with  which  those  doctrines  had  been  presented. 
There  really  were  but  four  platforms  of  religious  belief.  Pass- 
ing by  the  Church  of  England,  which  had  no  well-digested  sys- 


230  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

tern  of  pliilososhy,  and  the  Greek  Church,  which  had  nothing 
to  distinguish  it  particularly  from  the  Romish  Church,  the  first 
of  these  beliefs  was  the  Roman  Catholic.  The  doctrine  of  that 
church  was  that  salvation  came  only  through  this  infallible 
church.  The  channel  of  salvation  was  near  the  church,  —  obey 
the  priests,  believe  in  the  ghostly  fathers,  and  believing  what 
was  ordered.  The  speaker  next  considered  the  doctrine  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and,  as  the  third,  the  Calvinistic  doctrine, 
which  maintained  that  the  salvation  of  any  man  turned  exclu- 
sively on  the  purpose  or  will  of  God.  This  was  the  doctrine  ; 
but  he  did  not  know  how  it  was  subscribed  to  by  those  who 
represented  it.  The  fourth  platform  was  that  of  Arminianism, 
which  carried  home  to  man  the  sense  of  individual  responsi- 
bility, and  the  speaker  believed  it  to  be  the  very  marrow  and 
fatness  of  the  gospel.  The  speaker  then  proceeded  to  con- 
sider the  peculiarities  of  Methodist  piet}-,  which  had  been  of  a 
marked  type,  and  to  refute  the  criticisms  of  those  of  other  de- 
nominations, in  regard  to  their  lack  of  refinement  and  culture. 
Methodism  had  been  an  earnest  and  thorough-going  religion, 
and  it  must  continue  to  be  so.  He  rejoiced  in  the  improved 
facilities  for  education  in  the  Church.  Methodism  had  been  a 
joyful  type  of  piety,  and  he  believed  in  a  religion  that  not 
only  told  the  people  what  to  do,  but  made  them  happy.  The 
speaker  concluded  his  remarks  by  depicting  some  of  the  sacri- 
fices of  the  pioneer  preachers  at  the  West,  in  carrying  civiliza- 
tion and  the  gospel  forward  with  our  advancing  tide  of  popula- 
tion, and  declaring  that  the  word  must  be  onward,  as  God  had 
devolved  upon  them  a  very  great  responsibility. 

ADDRESS    OF    GOVERNOR   EVANS. 

Ex-Gov.  Evans,  of  Colorado,  and  Senator  elect,  was  next 
introduced,  and  said  that  the  remarks  of  the  speakers  who  had 
preceded  him,  in  reference  to  the  substantial  basis  of  the 
Church  with  which  he  had  been  connected  for  twenty-three 
years,  had  met  with  an  agreeable  response  in  his  heart.  After 
remarks  upon  denominational  topics,  the  speaker  turned  his 
remarks  to  Colorado,  mentioning  the  noble  part  she  had  borne 


Tin:  FESTIVAL.  231 

in  aiding  to  subdue  the  rebellion.  She  made  application  for 
admission  to  the  Union,  and  a  law  inviting  them,  as  it  were, 
passed  both  houses  of  Congress ;  but  Moses  [great  laughter], 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  said  "No." 

The  speaker  criticized  the  veto  message  very  severely.  After 
winning-  glorious  laurels,  in  supporting  the  army  of  the  Union, 
and  even  sending  colored  troops  to  Massachusetts  to  help  till 
her  quota,  after  organizing  a  government,  the  President  says 
that  it  is  not  best  that  Colorado  should  be  admitted  until  the 
representatives  from  the  eleven  seceded  States  should  be  con- 
sulted in  regard  to  it.  [A  voice,  "  God  have  mercy  on  him  !  " 
and  "  Amen  ! "  from  all  over  the  hall.]  Gov.  Evans  had  no 
doubt,  he  said,  that  if  the  delegation  from  Colorado  had  sup- 
ported "  my  policy,"  the  State  would  have  been  in  the  Union 
as  the  latest,  if  not  one  of  the  brightest,  stars  in  the  galaxy. 

Gov.  Evans  next  spoke  of  the  pioneer  work  the  Methodist 
Church  was  doing  in  Colorado.  It  goes  ahead  with  the  pioneer 
settlements,  and  plants  the  foundations  while  the  communities 
are  young.  With  the  growth  of  the  community  it  grows  up  to 
have  permanent,  controlling  religious  influence  ;  and  this  is  one 
of  the  most  important  reasons  why  our  Church  should  be  fostered. 
It  now  had  two  ministers  in  the  field  to  one  of  other  denomina- 
tions, and  in  the  fact  that  they  were  building  up  what  is  des- 
tined soon  to  become  a  great  empire,  they  were  entitled  to  the 
sympathy  and  encouragement  of  the  Church  throughout  the 
land. 

The  audience  again  united  in  singing  the  237th  hymn, 
following  which,  Bishop  Simpson  was  presented.  As  the 
Bishop  came  forward,  the  audience  seemed  almost  carried 
away  with  enthusiasm. 

address  of  bishop  simpson. 

Mr.  President,  Methodists  of  Boston,  and  of  all  New 

England:  —  The  evening  hours  are  far  spent.  The  closing 
moments  of  j-our  Convention  are  at  hand,  and  I  rise,  not  to  dis- 
cuss great  questions,  but  to  congratulate  you  on  the  success 
which  has  attended  your  assembling  together.     From  the  time 


232  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

of  my  arrival  here,  I  have  watched  with  great  interest  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Convention.  I  have  listened  to  able  essays  as 
well  as  to  clear  discussions  ;  and  I  am  glad  to  say  that  I  have 
not  discovered  the  slightest  lack  of  harmony,  nor  have  I  heard 
one  discordant  note.  The  Convention  has  grown  better  and 
better.  The  brotherly  feeling  has  risen  to  a  higher  and  higher 
strain.  The  walls  of  Tremont  Temple  have  echoed  with  your 
songs  of  praise,  and  you  have  felt  within  those  walls  not  only 
the  hallowed  influence  of  fraternal  communion,  but,  as  I  trust, 
the  presence  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church.  Here,  to-night, 
you  come  to  close  the  Convention  in  this  hall  of  Music,  where 
sweet  strains  are  so  often  heard  ;  and  we  have  been  delighted 
with  the  tones  of  this  grand  organ,  uniting  with  the  voices  of 
harmony  and  love  in  Christian  song  to  the  praise  of  our  Em- 
manuel God.  You  are  having  a  fitting  conclusion  of  this 
Convention.  And  yet  it  seems  to  me  that  the  managers  of 
•this  meeting  anticipated  that  we  might  have  some  difficulties, 
or  that  there  might  have  been  some  animosities  engendered  by 
our  discussions  ;  for  I  think  you  can  testify  with  me  that,  in 
the  arrangements  of  the  evening,  they  made  ample  provision 
to  berry  them  all,  and  certainly  this  evening  has  been  to  us  the 
cream  of  the  whole  Convention. 

Ere  we  separate,  however,  a  few  words  ma}r  yet  be  spoken. 
Men  possibly  may  ask,  Why  this  Convention?  Why  this 
meeting  together?  They  may  ask,  What  has  been  accom- 
plished by  it  ?  We  cannot  alwa}Ts  measure  the  forces  which 
work  upon  mind.  We  cannot  tell  the  impulses  which  may 
have  been  received,  the  intellectual  power  which  has  gone  out 
from  this  meeting ;  for,  like  light,  heat,  electricity  and  mag- 
netism, all  these  can  be  much  more  easily  felt  and  experienced 
than  they  can  be  measured  and  weighed.  I  have  no  doubt 
that  great  good  has  resulted.  We  have  taken  each  other  by 
the  hand.  We  have  looked  in  each  other's  e}res.  We  have 
recognized  each  other  as  brother  and  friend  ;  and  3-ou  go  back 
to  Maine  and  to  Rhode  Island,  to  Vermont,  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  to  Connecticut,  feeling  that  you  are  members  of  one 
great  brotherhood,  cemented  together  by  the  strongest  ties, 
and  going  forth  to  work  in  harmony  among  yourselves,  and  in 


TTIE   FESTIVAL.  233 

harmony  with  the  great  Christian  denominations  of  the  land, 
in  bringing  this  world   nearer  to  Christ.     This  is  the  great 

work;  and,  in  accomplishing  this,  brethren,  let  me  repeat 
some  suggestions  that  have  been  made.  First,  as  ministers, 
let  us  preach  the  grand  and  glorious  doctrines  of  the  gospel  as 
set  forth  by  our  fathers;  We  have  nothing  to  take  back,  and 
we  have  nothing  to  abate.  We  shall  not  enter  upon  this  sub- 
ject in  a  controversial  spirit ;  but,  wherever  we  go,  let  us  pro- 
claim the  glad  tidings  of  great  J03'  to  every  son  and  daughter 
of  our  fallen  parents. 

I  will  criticize  the  admirable  speech  of  my  brother  from  the 
West  —  the  minister  who  discussed  our  doctrine  —  in  one  res- 
pect, and  in  one  onty.  It  is  in  this  :  he  said  that  Methodism 
directed  itself  to  the  masses,  looking  neither  to  the  scum  on 
one  side  nor  to  the  sediment  on  the  other.  Brethren,  this  sen- 
timent, uttered  in  the  excitement  of  extemporaneous  speaking, 
I  cannot  fully  endorse.  We  should  go  down  to  the  sediment, 
we  should  go  down  to  the  lowest  of  the  low.  If  there  be  a 
poor  beggar  in  the  land,  we  should  take  him  by  the  hand. 
[Applause.]  We  have  a  right  to  stand  where  our  Master  stood 
before  us.  The  blessed  Saviour,  who  came  from  the  courts  of 
glory  to  be  the  babe  in  Bethlehem  and  in  the  manger,  stooped 
so  low  to  lay  the  arms  of  his  mercy  around  us,  and  to  raise  us 
up  toward  heaven  ;  and  if  we  have  any  of  his  spirit,  we  shall 
stoop  down  to  the  deepest  haunts  of  poverty,  and  to  the  very 
verge  of  hell,  to  save  one  poor,  lost  soul.  Yet  if  there  be  the 
princes  of  the  land,  if  there  be  men  of  might  and  power,  if 
there  be  men  whose  eyes  are  open  to  see  thoughts  that  com- 
mon men  never  see,  if  there  be  poets  and  orators,  if  there  be 
masterminds  in  the  community,  —  we  would  speak  to  them, 
too,  and  say,  Come  and  consecrate  your  all  to  Him  who  is 
worthy  to  be  crowned  Lord  of  all.  This  is  our  mission  ;  and 
let  us  not  only  go  preaching,  brethren,  but,  more  than  this,  let 
us  go  practising.  This  is  our  great  mission,  —  let  us  exem- 
plify the  Christian  religion  in  our  walk  and  in  our  lives.  Let 
us  be  cheerful  Christians.  Let  us  be  happy  Christians.  We 
have  a  right  to  be  happy.  The  consciousness  of  God's  love  is 
within  us ;  the  arms  of  redeeming  mercy  are  around  us ;  the 
16 


234  METHODIST  CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

promises  and  inspirations  of  the  gospel  are  given  to  us,  and  as 
we  go  forth,  let  us  be  joyful  Christians.  Receive  the  apostolic 
commission  again,  "  Rejoice  evermore ;  and  again  I  sa}^,  re- 
."  Let  the  world  see  that  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  can 
calm  all  tumults,  assauge  all  sorrows,  cheer  all  despondencies  ; 
and  that  the  hope  of  heaven,  like  a  star  that  shines  out  amidst 
the  breaking  clouds,  ever  cheers  and  directs  us  in  the  pilgrim- 
age of  life. 

Whatever  other  results  may  flow  from  this  Convention,  I 
think  I  see  this  :  that  we  shall  go  away  resolved  to  build  up 
with  more  earnestness  than  ever  the  institutions  of  Methodism, 
and  to  feel  that  we  are  one  bocby,  and  that  we  must  work  to- 
gether. You  have,  this  evening,  heard  high  compliments 
passed  upon  Methodism  Irv  a  distinguished  speaker.  I  wish 
they  were  all  deserved  to  the  full  extent  in  which  they  were  ut- 
tered. I  think  Methodism  has  done  much,  and  I  rejoice  ;  but 
there  is  a  great  deal  which  is  not  accomplished,  that  I  want  to 
see  accomplished  ;  and  for  myself,  I  would  infuse  the  spirit,  if 
I  could,  into  the  Church,  of  counting  nothing  accomplished 
while  anything  remains  to  be  done.  Though  rejoicing  in  the 
past,  let  us  gird  ourselves  afresh,  and  consecrate  ourselves  to 
the  work  before  us,  for  this  world  is  waiting  to  be  evangelized. 
There  are  many  churches  in  your  city,  and  I  rejoice  in  their 
number  in  all  denominations.  There  are  many  churches 
through  the  country,  and  I  rejoice  in  their  increase  ;  but  to-day 
the  terrible  fact  stares  us  in  the  face,  that  nearly  half  the  popu- 
lation of  our  entire  country  are  living  without  the  means  of 
grace,  and  are  going  down  to  ruin.  Christian  men  and  women, 
stir  yourselves.  [Voices,  "  Amen  ! "]  Gather  around  the 
cross  of  Christ ;  feel  the  full  power  that  flows  out  of  that  cross, 
and  then  go  on  your  mission  of  mercy  to  bring  all  mankind  to 
experience  the  saving  love  of  the  Redeemer. 

Your  educational  institutions  have  been  commended  to  you 
during  this  Convention.  Endow  a  school  for  the  prophets, 
that  3'our  ministry  may  be  thoroughly  educated  ;  and  all  the 
time  you  are  giving,  pray  that  God  may  endow  them  and  bap- 
tize them  from  on  high.  Endow  your  universities,  and  your 
seminaries,  that  they  may  be  nurseries  of  learning,  and  of 


THE   FESTIVAL.  235 

piety,  that  shall  bless  the  land.  Erect  your  churches  and  your 
parsonages  ;  attend  to  all  the  social  influences.  Go  away  de- 
termined to  educate  every  son  and  every  daughter  for  Christ  — 
to  give  the  highest  possible  culture,  so  that  as  the  year  rolls 
around,  you  shall  be  a  living  power  that  shall  dwell  upon  the 
laud.  And,  be  assured  of  this  one  fact,  that,  other  things 
being  equal,  the  educated  mind  will  govern  the  country  —  will 
govern  the  world.  It  is  our  duty  to  educate  our  children,  and 
it  will  be  a  shame  for  us,  as  members  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
after  what  God  has  done  for  us,  if  we  neglect  to  train,  polish, 
and  educate  them  to  the  highest  possible  degree.  Let  them  be 
prepared  to  be  legislators,  to  be  attornies,  to  be  physicians,  to 
be  men  who  shall  lead  the  country  in  all  departments ;  for,  if 
not  true  to  ourselves  and  our  country,  we  are  unworthy  of 
the  name  of  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

And  here  let  me  pause  but  for  a  moment  to  say,  that  a 
strange  misconception  has,  by  some  means,  long  prevailed  in 
the  country,  —  a  strange  misconception  that  Methodism  does 
not  favor  the  highest  possible  culture.  Methodism !  Where 
did  it  arise  but  in  a  university?  Who  was  its  leader  but  a  man 
of  the  most  cultured  mind?  Methodism  !  The  first  Methodist 
club  ever  formed  was  a  club  of  3roung  men  in  the  university  to 
read  the  Greek  Testament  together  on  every  Sunday  afternoon, 
and  to  criticise  thoroughly  what  might  be  found  there  by  their 
knowledge  of  the  original  language.  Methodism  has  ever 
been  the  friend  of  education.  Mr.  Wesley  began  his  career 
by  erecting  schools.  In  the  rise  of  Methodism  in  this  country, 
strange  to  say,  the  very  year  our  church  was  organized,  in 
1784,  a  Methodist  college  was  founded  between  Philadelphia 
and  Baltimore.  The  edifice  was  erected,  its  halls  were  opened, 
its  instructors  began  their  labors  ;  but  the  torch  of  the  incen- 
diary consumed  it  in  an  hour.  It  was  removed  to  the  city  of 
Baltimore.  There,  in  a  building  prepared  for  the  purpose,  the 
college  was  again  opened,  and  again  a  fire  destroyed  the  edifice, 
and  our  fathers,  despondent,  gave  up  the  work  in  this  direc- 
tion, believing  that  God  had  required  them  to  devote  all  their 
energies  and  all  their  time  to  the  single  work  of  publishing  the 
story  of  the  cross. 


236  METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 

Thus  we  continued  for  some  twenty-fire  or  thirty  years,  un- 
til the  increasing  numbers  of  our  young  people  made  it  an 
imperative  duty  to  found  schools  and  seminaries  and  universi- 
ties.    Though  thus  delayed,  I  rejoice  in  what  has  been  accom- 
plished.    The  day  was  that  the  walls  of  other  colleges  were 
almost  closed  against  us.     Some  of  us  well  know  the  taunts, 
sneers,  and  abuse  inflicted  upon  our  youth.     I  shall  never  for- 
get my  own  academic  training,  when  I  was  but  a  little  boy. 
Though  not  a  member  of  the  Church,  I  scarcely  ever  left  the 
academic  grounds,  or  was  out  of  the  reach  of  my  teachers,  but 
the  boys  would  gather  around  me,  as  I  was  the  onty  student 
of  a  Methodist  family,  and  assail  me  with,  "  Glory  to  God  !  " 
"  Pray  on,  brother  !  "  "  Amen  ! "  and  every  word  of  that  kind 
which  they  could  fancy  had  a  Methodistic  reproach.     Since 
that  da}',  I  have  known  young  men  in  colleges,  and  seminaries, 
called   every   Monday   morning   before   the    Faculty   because 
they  had  attended,  on  Sabbath,  the  church  of  their  fathers, 
and  the  church  of  which  they  were  members.     Such  was  the 
course  pursued  toward  us.     We  were  obliged  to  build  colleges 
for  ourselves  ;  and  we  have  built  them.     And  now,  I  am  glad 
to  say,  the  doors  of  all  are  open,  they  treat  us  kindly,  take  us 
by  the  hand,   and  we  hear  no  more  of  persecutions  of  this 
character.     But,  brethren,    stand   by   your   own   institutions. 
[Loud  applause,  and  "  Amen."]     Endow  them  liberally.    Teach 
your  young  men  and  young  women  they  may  have  the  highest 
advantages   among   3rourselves ;   and   the   very  opposition  of 
those  who  ought  to  have  been  our  friends,  shall  only  work  for 
our   higher   advancement,  and   our  greater  glory.     I   speak 
plainly  upon   this  t subject,   brethren,  because   it  is    a   family 
gathering,  and  I  think  that  we  ought  to  join  heart  and  hand  to- 
gether.    Let  me   say  one  thing  more :     After  you  go  home, 
take  care  not  only  of  your  children  —  take  care  of  the  }~oung 
men  of  the  country.     Find  places  for  them  ;  encourage  profes- 
sional talent ;  let  it  not  be  thrown  away  from  you,  as  it  often- 
times is.     I  was  touched  by  the  remark  one  of  my  brethren 
made  about  the  late  war,  when  he  said  that  among  the  men 
that  bore  the  musket,  the  rank  and  file  of  the  army,  we  had 
more  than  any  other  people.    It  is  the  universal  testimony. 


TIITC   FESTIVAL.  237 

But  whore  wore  the  men  that  bad  the  epaulettes  on  their 
shoulders  ?  Whore  were  they  to  be  found  —  of  what  churches, 
and  in  what  proportions?  Brethren,  we  have  cared  for  none  of 
these  things.  We  have  seen  our  young  men  enticed  from  us, 
—  we  have  been  careless  in  regard  to  our  position.  While  I 
would  not  say,  Do  anything  for  a  Methodist  because  he  is  a 
Methodist,  I  say  this  :  Take  care  of  your  children  so  that  they 
will  not  be  ignored  in  society,  and  deprived  of  their  equal 
rights  because  they  are  your  children.  For  myself,  I  am  free 
to  say  I  have  no  faith  in  bringing  up  my  sons  or  my  daughters 
to  be  hewers  of  wood  or  drawers  of  water  for  any  other  de- 
nomination in  the  land.     [Great  applause.] 

Brethren,  the  scenes  and  the  duties  of  a  centenary  year  are 
upon  us.  I  am  glad  that  you  and  I  have  met  together. 
We  shall  never  so  meet  on  earth  again.  As  the  fathers  and 
mothers  are  not  with  us,  so  none  of  us  will  live  to  see 
another  centenary.  We  shall  all  have  gone  to  the  spirit 
land.  How  glad  I  am  that  this  year  comes  under  such  favor- 
able circumstances.  [Amen.]  This  year  of  1866  —  this  }roar 
of  our  jubilee  —  wrhat  a  glorious  3-ear  !  Why,  the  old  prophets 
looked  towards  it  in  the  ages  past.  The  host  of  commentators 
along  the  centuries  predicted  that  the  }rear  of  1866  was  to  be  a 
wonderful  year.  They  counted  the  twelve  hundred  and  sixty 
years,  from  the  rise  of  Papal  power,  and  told  us  that  in  1866 
the  Papal  power  would  be  destroyed,  and  the  Mohammedan 
power  would  be  destroyed,  and  millennial  gloiy  would  begin 
to  dawn  on  our  earth.  I  recollect  when  a  little  boy  I  used  to 
listen  to  the  reading  and  rendering  of  these  prophecies,  and 
often  did  I  think,  Shall  I  ever  live  to  see  the  wonderful  year  of 
1866?  Sometimes  I  felt  like  saying,  0,  if  I  could  live  to  see 
1866,  and  behold  the  first  glimmer  of  light  of  the  millennial 
gloiy  as  it  ushers  in  the  dawn  and  gilds  the  mountains,  1  would 
say,  "  Let  now  thy  servant  depart  in  peace."  Well,  we  have 
seen  the  year  1866  beam  upon  us,  —  the  year  of  jubilee.  1  do 
not  know  that  the  Papal  power  will  be  abolished  this  year. 
But,  all  Italy  is  in  motion.  The  Pope  has  found  himself  penned 
up  in  very  narrow  borders.  He  scarcely  knows  whether  he  has 
any  temporal  kingdom  or  not.     He  is  on  the  verge  of  a  vol- 


238  METHODIST  CENTENAKT  CONTENTION. 

cano,  whose  fires  are  burning  beneath  his  feet.  The  Moham- 
medan power,  sick  a  long  time,  is  lying  very  near  to  its  death- 
bed ;  and,  for  myself,  I  am  ready  to  administer  extreme  unction 
almost  at  an}'  time.  [Laughter.]  Whether  this  year  shall  see 
the  downfall  of  Papal  power  and  Mohammedan  power  or  not, 
it  is  a  glorious  year.  The  Papal  power  will  fall,  and  the  Mo- 
hammedan power  will  fall,  and  millennial  glory  will  come.  I 
recollect  a  few  years  ago  standing  in  the  great  mosque  of  St. 
Sophia,  in  Constantinople.  Some"  friends  were  with  me,  and 
as  we  looked  upon  the  Mohammedan  worshippers,  they  said  to 
me,  "  Do  you  expect  ever  to  revisit  this  place?  "  "  It  is  not 
likely,"  I  said,  "  that  I  shall  be  here  again  (for  my  health  was 
very  poor),  but,"  said  I,  "  there  is  one  condition  on  which  I 
should  be  happy  to  live  to  cross  the  great  ocean,  and  visit  this 
city  again.  When  the  mosque  of  St.  Sophia  is  to  be  re-dedi- 
cated, as  a  Christian  church,  if  I  should  be  invited  to  attend 
the  re-dedication  I  will  go,  if  it  be  half  across  the  world." 
[Applause.]  I  may  not  be  there  ;  but  the  mosque  will  be  re- 
dedicated,  the  Mohammedan  and  the  heathen  temples  shall 
become  temples  for  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  Word  of  God  shall 
be  preached  over  mountain  tops  and  over  valleys,  and  all 
nations  shall  rejoice  together. 

Then,  again,  I  am  glad  that  this  year  of  our  jubilee  has  come 
in  this  connection  with  our  national  history.  How  sad  I  would 
have  been  if  this  centenary  year  had  been  three  or  four  years 
ago,  when  the  nation  was  aroused,  and  armies  were  marshaled, 
and  the  voice  of  war  was  heard,  and  the  ground  was  being 
covered  with  the  blood  of  our  sons  and  our  friends.  How 
sadly  would  I  have  felt  to  have  been  then  obliged  to  celebrate 
this  centenary  year !  But  now  God  has  brought  us  through 
the  struggle.  The  war  has  closed,  and  every  slave  in  the  land 
has  gone  free.  [Great  applause.]  Universal  emancipation, 
and  universal  freedom,  now  reign  throughout  our  coimtiy. 
God  has  blessed  us  in  this  respect  with  a  great  victory.  And 
to-night  I  am  glad  that,  in  this  1866,  as  we  celebrate  the  cen- 
tenary 3'ear  of  Methodism,  and  come  and  sing  together  here  of 
jubilee,  our  flag  is  in  the  heavens,  thank  God !  with  not  one 
star  dimmed,  nor  one  stripe  erased.     [Great  applause.]     We 


THE   FESTIVAL.  239 

are  a  groat  nation  yet,  and  God  smiles  upon  us.  "While  we 
are  reconstructing  the  nation,  let  us  reconstruct  society,  and 
bring  the  world  to  the  foot  of  the  cross  of  Christ.  This  is  our 
great  mission,  and  God  help  us  to  perform  it.  Work  as  you 
never  have  worked.  Work,  knowing  that  time  is  but  short. 
So  work  that  when  you  render  your  account  }tou  may  hear  the 
Master  say,  "  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant ! "  [Great 
applause.] 

This  speech  was  the  most  glorious  thing  of  the  whole 
jubilee,  and  a  fitting  close.  Once  more  the  congregation 
lifted  up  its  voice,  and,  with  the  great  organ  sending  forth 
its  grand  and  glorious  music,  made  the  walls  ring  with 
that  soul-stirring  tune,  "  Old  Hundred."  The  meeting  was 
then  brought  to  a  close. 


LIST    OF    DELEGATES 


[The  following  list  was  prepared  from  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Cre- 
dentials. It  is  known  to  be  very  imperfect,  but  we  have  no  means  of  making  it 
any  more  accurate.] 


A. 

Conference. 

Conference. 

Abbott,  T.  J.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Atwood,  E.  H. 

Prov. 

Adams,  0.  W.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Atwood,  Warren 

Prov. 

Adams,  Elisha  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Austin,  David  Rev. 

vt. 

Adams,  N.  D. 

N.  H. 

Austin,  H.  F.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Adams,  John  W.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Austin,  James 

N.  H. 

Adams,  John  F.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Ayer,  R.  J.  Rev. 

Me. 

Adams,  Oliver 

Prov. 

Ay  res,  W.  M.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Adams,  Orison 

N.  E. 

Aiken,  A.  P.  Rev. 

Prov. 

B. 

Alcott,  Wni. 

N.  H. 

Babcock,  D.  C.  Rev. 

N.  II. 

Allen,  N.  J. 

Vt. 

Babcock,  E. 

Prov. 

Allen,  John, Rev. 

Me. 

Bagnall,  Thomas 

N.E. 

Allen,  J.  0.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Bailey,  A. 

Vt. 

Allen,  Daniel  G. 

Prov. 

Bailey,  N.  M.  Rev. 

N.H. 

Allen,  Ralph  W.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Bailey,  A.  F.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Allen,  C.  F.  Rev. 

Me. 

Bailey,  J.  M.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Allan,  John 

Prov. 

Bailev,  Ucal 

N.  H. 

Almy,  J.  F. 

N.  E. 

Bailey,  L.  D. 

Vt. 

Amee,  Samuel 

Me. 

Baker,  Henry  Rev.  . 

N.  E. 

Ames,  J.  A.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Baker,  Martin 

N.H. 

Andrews,  Chas.  Rev. 

Me. 

Baker,  Chester 

Vt. 

Andrews,  E.  A.  Rev.  D. 

D.    Conn. 

Ballou,  G.  W.Rev. 

Me. 

Anderson,  A.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Bancroft,  Geo.  C.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Anthony,  E.  M.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Bancroft,  Samuel 

N.E. 

Anthony,  Edmund 

Prov. 

Bartlett,  W.  B.  Rev. 

Me. 

Applebee,  W.  C.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Barnard,  A.  F.  Rev. 

Me. 

Arey,  B.  S.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Barker,  John  L. 

Vt. 

Armstrong;,  James  Rev. 

Me. 

Barber,  Danl.  W.  Rev. 

N.H. 

Arnold,  Wm.  H. 

Barrows,  L.  D.  Rev.  D. 

D.    N.H. 

Aspinwall,  N.  "VV.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Barnes,  J.  W.  F.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Atherton,  Shubael 

N.  E. 

Barber,  Geo.  W.  Rev. 

Me. 

Atkins,  Daniel  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Barney,  George 

Vt. 

Atkins,  Isaiah 

N.  E. 

Barber,  Rufus  C. 

N.H. 

Atkinson,  Kinsman  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Barrows,  J.  S.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Atkinson,  Kinsman  Rev. 

Me. 

Bass,  E.  C.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Atkinson,  George 

N.  E. 

Bassett,  John  F.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

LIST   OF   DELEGATES. 


241 


Bassett,  Henry 

Prov. 

Brewster,  G.  "W.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Batcomb,  Chas. 

Vt. 

Brewster,  L.  R.  S.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Bates,  Otia 

Prov. 

Brick,  David  C. 

N.  E. 

Bates,  L.  B.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Bridge,  W.  D.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Batchelder,  N.  II. 

N.  II. 

Bridge,  G.  W.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Baylies,  Andrew  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Brigham,  Elijah 

N.  E. 

Beal,  David 

Prov. 

Brookins,  K.  M. 

E.  Me. 

Beale,  Seth  Rev. 

B.  Me. 

Brown,  Saml.  C.  Rev.  D. 

D.   Prov. 

Beale,  Charles 

B.  Me. 

Brown,  S.  0.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Beal,  Chandler 

Me. 

Brown,  Sanborn 

N.  II. 

Bean,  Jas.  M.  Rev. 

N.  11. 

Brown,  Wm.  L.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Beedle,  John 

E.  Me. 

Brown,  II.  E. 

N.  E. 

Beedle,  Samuel  Rev. 

N.  II. 

Brown,  Wm.  C. 

N.  E. 

Beedle,  Jas.  B. 

Me. 

Brownell,  Joseph 

Prov. 

Beeching,  Richard 

N.  E. 

Bryant,  Wm.  A.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Bemis,  Nathaniel  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Bryant,  Geo.  N.  Rev. 

N.  If. 

Bent,  G.  R.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Bryant,  Amasa 

N.  H. 

Bent,  John 

N.  E. 

Bugbee,  Alonzo 

Vt. 

Bent,  Charles 

Bullard,  Ward  Rev. 

Vt. 

Bentley,  G.  R. 

Prov. 

Bullard,  A.  T.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Berry,  N.  8.  Hon. 

N.  E. 

Bullard,  M. 

vt. 

Beet,  E.  8.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Burbank,  Abel 

Vt. 

v,  A.  B. 

Prov. 

Hurdick,  Clark 

Prov. 

Biekford,  G.  II .  Rev. 

Vt. 

Burnett,  W.  A. 

Vt. 

Bid  well,  I.  M.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Burn  ham,  W.  R. 

Prov. 

Bigelow,  I.  B.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Busvvell,  C   S.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Billings,  Martin 

Prov. 

Butts,  T.  W. 

Prov. 

Bishop,  Samuel 

Me. 

Butler,  Wm.  Rev.  D.  D. 

N.  E. 

Blakemore,  Wrn. 

N.  E. 

Butler,  J.  D.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Blackmer,  W.  P.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Buttrick,  Geo.  M. 

N.  E. 

Blackruer,  John 

N.  E. 

Button,  A.  G.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Blethen,  Isaiah 

E.  Me. 

Butts,  Geo.  W. 

Prov. 

Blood,  Henry  P.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Blood,  L.  W.  Rev. 

Prov. 

C. 

Bodfish,  Asa  X.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Cad  well,  John  Rev. 

N.  E- 

Booth,  H.  S.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Cady,  Lawton  Rev. 

Prov. 

Bosworth,  B.  K.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Call  well,  F.  P.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Bosworth,  L.  A.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Call,  0.  II.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Bourne,  G.  L. 

N.  E. 

Capen,  John  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Bourne,  Oliver 

Me. 

Carr,  Geo.  W.  Rev. 

N.  II. 

Bowdish,  Leonard  Rev. 

Prov. 

Carter,  Truman  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Borden,  Lunian  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Cary  John  G.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Bradford,  Wm. 

Prov. 

Case,  George 

Prov. 

Brackett,  E.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Chase,  B.  W.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Brackett,  Henry  M. 

Me. 

Chase,  N.  L.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Brackett,  Josiah 

N.  E. 

Chase. 

N.  H. 

Bradbury,  Wymond 

N.  E. 

Chase,  George 

Prov. 

Bradley,  Henry 

Prov. 

Chase,  S.  B.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Bray,  H.  L.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Chase,  Amos 

Vt. 

Bray,  W.  M<  Ivendree  Rev. 

Prov. 

-  ,  Charles,  jr. 

Vt. 

Brewer,  II.  B. 

N.  E. 

Chandler,  Henry  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Breed,  Joseph 

N.  E. 

Chandler,  John  B. 

Prov. 

Brewster,  Albert 

Prov. 

Chapin,  Solomon  Rev. 

N.  E. 

242 


METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 


Chapin,  M.  C.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Cousens,  0.  M.  Rev. 

Me. 

Chapin,  A.  P. 

N.  E. 

Cox,  Smith  C. 

Me. 

Chamberlain,  Nathaniel 

Vt. 

Cox,  G.  F.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Chapman,  Geo.  E.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Cox,  Daniel 

E.  Me. 

Chapman,  J.  B. 

N.  H. 

Coxe,  J.  C.  Watson  Rev. 

Vt. 

Chapman,  J.  A.  M.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Crawford,  J.  B.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Charles,  Goliath 

N.  E. 

Crawford,  E.  A. 

N.  H. 

Church,  A.  J.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Crafts,  F.  A.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Cilley,  Moses  T.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Craine,  John  P. 

Prov. 

Clark,  Jason 

Vt. 

Crocker,  Loring 

Prov. 

Clark  Jonas  M.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Crowell,  T.  P. 

Prov. 

Clark,  Hiram 

Vt. 

Crowell,  Loranus  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Clark,  Franklin 

Prov. 

Crowell,  T.  C. 

Pnv. 

Clark,  G.  W.  H.  Rev. 

N.  H 

Crowl,  J.  F.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Clark,  Wm.  R.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Cross,  Chas.  H. 

Vt. 

Clark,  Sterling 

Me. 

Crosby,  Edwin 

Prov. 

Clarke,  Elisha 

Me. 

Crooks,  Geo.  R.  Rev.  D.  D 

.    N.  Y. 

Clarke,  F.  P.  A. 

Vt. 

Culver,  Newell  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Clapp,  J.  S. 

Prov. 

Cummings,  S.  S.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Clapp,  Chas.  A. 

N.  H. 

Cummings,  M.  B.  Rev. 

Me. 

Clapp,  Fred.  A. 

N.  E. 

Cummings,  J.  Rev.  D.  D. 

N.  E. 

Claflin,  Lee 

N.  E. 

Currier,  John  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Claflin,  Wm.  Hon. 

N.  E. 

Currier,  S.  B.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Cobb,  H.  K.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Cushing,  C.  W.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Cobb,  John  Rev. 

Me. 

Cushing,  S.  A.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Cobb,  Amos  E. 

Prov. 

Cushing,  Stephen  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Cobb,  G.  F.  Rev. 

Me. 

Cushman,  L.  P.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Cobleigh,  N.  E.  Rev.  D.  D. 

N.  E. 

Cobleigh,  Alonzo 

Vt. 

D. 

Coggeshall,  S.  W.  Rev.  D.D.  P  ov. 

Dadmun,  J.  W.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Cogswell,  L.  D. 

N.  E. 

Dailey,  John 

Vt. 

Cole,  Warren 

N.  E. 

Davis,  Geo.  H. 

Prov. 

Cole,  Andrew 

N.  H. 

Davis,  James 

Prov. 

Colburn,  W.  W.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Davis,  John  A. 

N.  E. 

Colburn,  S.  H.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Davis,  L.  D.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Colby,  Joseph  Rev. 

Me. 

Davies,  Edward  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Collier,  J.  N.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Dayton,  D.  W.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Collyer,  I.  J.  P.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Day,  J.  W.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Collins,  John  Rev. 

Me. 

Day,  Edward  Dr. 

N.  H. 

Cone,  C.  C.  Rev. 

Me. 

Day,  John  S.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Conant,  H.  W.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Dean,  J.  A.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Cooper,  V.  A.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Dean,  John 

N.  E. 

Cooper,  A.  L.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Dearth,  Leander  L. 

E.  Me. 

Cooper,  J.  B. 
Cook,  S.  A.  Dr. 

Prov. 

Dexter,  A.  S. 

Me. 

N.  E. 

Dickinson,  L.  C.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Cook,  Geo.  L. 

N.  E. 

Dickey,  A.  M.  Col. 

Vt. 

Cooke,  Edward  Rev.  D.  D. 

N.  E. 

Dinsmore,  C.  M.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Copp,  Henry  B.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Dixon,  R.  S.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Copeland,  A.  J.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Dodge,  Wm.  S. 

Me. 

Copeland,  Israel 

E.  Me. 

Dodge,  W.  J. 

E.  Me. 

Corbin,  C.  C. 

N.  E. 

Donaldson,  Sylvester  Rev. 

Vt. 

Cornish,  Elbridge 

Me. 

Donkersley,  Richard  Rev. 

Prov. 

Coult,  A.  C.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Dorchester,  Daniel  Rev. 

N.  E. 

LIST   OF   DELEGATES. 


243 


Doton,  James 

N.  II. 

Douglass,  Asa 

\.  11. 

Douglass,  Thos.  W.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Downs,  I).  W.  llcv. 

N.  II. 

Dow,  Sewall  \V. 

N.  11. 

Draper,  Lorenzo  Rev. 

N.  11. 

Draper,  Wilson 

Vt. 

Drake,  Samuel 

N.  E. 

Drew,  T.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Duffy,  John 

Prov. 

Dunn,  Chas.  B.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Dunn,  James 

Me. 

Dunn,  Edward  H. 

N.  E. 

Dunning,  Chas.  U.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Dunham,  II.  C.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Durgin,  Luther  T. 

N.  H. 

Dtirkee,  Paine 

N.  E. 

Dwight,  Mosely  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Dyer,  F.  M. 

N.E. 

E. 

Eastman,  L.  L.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Eastman,  Hubbard  Rev. 

Vt. 

Eastman,  A.  W. 

Vt. 

Eastman,  C.  L.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Eaton,  Geo.  F.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Eaton,  Bennett  Rev. 

Vt. 

Eaton,  Washington 

N.  H. 

Eddy,  T.  M.  Rev.  D.  D. 

Chicago. 

Edson,  Edward  Rev. 

Prov. 

Ela,  Walter  Rev. 

Prov. 

Ela,  D.  II.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Eldridge,  Atkins 

Prov. 

Eldredge,  Aaron  J. 

N.E. 

Ellis,  0.  S. 

N.E. 

Ellis,  Albert 

N.  E. 

Emerson,  S.  M.  Rev. 

Me. 

Enright,  J.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Evans,  Ex-Gov. 

Colorado 

Everett,  A.  M. 

Prov. 

Everdean,  Joseph 

N.E. 

F. 
Fabyan,  George  Dr. 

N.E. 

Farrar,  Chas.  B. 

E.  Me. 

Farrington,  Win.  F.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Fellows,  John 

Me. 

Fellows,  N.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Ferrin,  Seth 

Prov. 

Field,  Alanson 

Vt. 

Fisl),  J.S.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Fish,  Linus  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Fisk,  Franklin  Rev. 

N.E. 

Fisk,  Abner 

X.  B. 

Fletcher,  Josiah  Rev. 

Flood,  Theodore  L.  llev. 

N.  11. 

Ford,  William  Rev. 

Vt, 

Foster,  Wm.  11.  Rev. 

Foster,  Josiafa 

Pr  iv. 

Fox,  Presbey  E. 

N.  II. 

Frankle,  Rev. 

X   B. 

French,  L.  P.  Rev. 

J'..  Me. 

French,  Moses 

Me. 

Freeman,  Benj.  Rev. 

Me. 

Freeman,  N.  0.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Frost,  L.  P. 

N.E. 

Fuller,  S.  A.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Fuller,  Geo.  E.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Fuller,  John 

]•;.  Me. 

Furber,  Franklin  Rev. 

N.E. 

G. 

Gardner,  R.  J. 

Prov. 

Garvin,  C.  F.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Gardner,  Thomas 

Prov. 

Gavitt,  Franklin  Rev, 

Prov. 

Gavitt,  Geo.  F. 

Prov. 

Gay  lord,  J.  H.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Gay,  Benjamin 

N.  11. 

Geginheimer,  G. 

N.E. 

George,  N.  D.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Gerry,  Geo. 

N.E. 

Gifford,  Thos.  Rev. 

Me. 

Gifford,  J.  E.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Gill,  Joshua  Rev. 

Vt. 

Gill,  Jason 

Prov. 

Gilman,  II.  W. 

N.  II. 

Gilman,  A.  G. 

Glynn,  James 

N.  H. 

Godfrey,  A.  C.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Goff,  D.  N.       AVolcottville,  Conn. 

Goldtbwaite,  J.  L. 

N.  E. 

Goodale,  David 

Vt. 

Goodell,  H.  B. 

N.E. 

Gorham,  B.  W.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Gordon,  Wm.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

<  ionld,  Joseph 

Vt. 

Gould,  Albert  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Gould,  J.  B.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Gould,  S.  S. 

N.  H. 

Gower,  Davis  N. 

Me. 

Granger,  N.  M.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Granger,  Noah 

Vt. 

Grant,  John  S. 

X.  F. 

Green,  Nelson  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Greely,  Geo. 

N.  11. 

244 


METHODIST  CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 


Grinnell,  Wra. 

E.  Me. 

Gross,  David 

JMe. 

Guernsey,  J.  W.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

H. 
Haff,  E.  B.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Hagar,  Amos 

N.  E. 

Haines,  Jas.  H. 

N.  H. 

Hallett,  H.  W. 

N.  E. 

Hall,  Allen  J.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Hall,  Chas.  E.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Hall,  Linville  J.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Hall,  W.  B. 

Prov. 

Hall,  Ralph 

N.  H. 

Hale,  Henry  R. 

Prov. 

Hanilen,  Geo.  M.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Hamilton,  Joseph  Rev. 

Vt. 

Hamilton,  A.  0.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Hammond,  Chas.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Hammond,  Chas.  W. 

Me. 

Hambleton,  W.  J.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Hanaford,  C.  H.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Hanaford,  J.  L.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Harding,  C.  R.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Harding,  R.  G. 

Me. 

Karris,  C.  W. 

Prov. 

Harlow,  R.  W.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Hascall,  Jefferson  Rev.  D 

D.N.E. 

Hardy,  Simeon 

N.  E. 

Hathaway,  Hiram 

Vt. 

Hatch,  A.  P.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Hatch,  Alvra  Rev. 

Me. 

Hatch,  W.  H.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Hathaway,  G.  W. 

Prov. 

Hatfield,  R.  M.Rev.  D.D. 

Chicago. 

Haven,  Gilbert  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Hawks,  Jos.  Rev. 

Me. 

Hawkins,  J.  E.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Haynes,  James 

N.  E. 

Haynes,  Z.  S.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Hayden,  Josiah 

N.  E. 

Heath,  M.  N. 

Vt 

Heath,  S.  P.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Helmershausen  E.  A.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Herrick,  A.  F.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Herrick,  Benj.  J. 

Me. 

Hewes,  Geo.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Higgins,  Phineas  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

High,  Win.  C.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Hill,  J. 

Me. 

Hillman,  John  H.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Hinckley,  Chas.  N.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Hitchcock,  Alonzo  Rev. 

Vt. 

N.  E- 

Me. 

N.  H. 

N.  H. 

E.  Me. 
N.  E. 

Vt. 

Vt. 
Prov. 

Vt. 
N.  E. 
N.  H. 
N.  E. 
Prov. 
N.  H. 

Vt. 
Prov. 
Stamford,  Conn. 

Vt. 


Hitchcock,  Wm.  L. 

Hodsdon,  F.  W. 

Holman,  Calvin  Rev. 

Holman,  Sullivan  Rev. 

Hoi  way,  W.  0.  Rev. 

Holden,  Daniel 

Hopkins,  E.  D.  Rev. 

Hopkins,  Daniel 

Hopkins,  E.  B.  Dr. 

Houghton,  Wm.  P. 

Howard,  E.  P.  Dr. 

Howard,  A.  K.Rev. 

Howard,  R.  H.  Rev. 

Howard,  Mellen  Rev. 

Howard,  Lewis  Rev. 

Howard,  W.  B.  Rev. 

Howson,  John  Rev. 

Hoyt,  Oliver 

Hoyt,  II.  P. 

Hubbard,  Wm.  M.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Hulburd,  D.  P.  Rev.  Vt. 

Hull,  Liverus  N.  E. 

Humphriss,  R.  W.  Rev.  Prov. 

Husted,  J.  B.  Rev.  Prov. 

Hutchinson,  E.  W.  Rev.       E.  JMe. 

Hyde,  Wm.  H.  Vt. 

Hyde,  Wm.  Penn  Rev.  Prov. 

Hyde,  Edmund  S.  Prov. 

I. 

Ingalls,  A.  J.  Rev.  Vt. 

Ingraham,  C.  D.  Rev.  Vt. 

Ingalls,  Samuel  Dr.  N.  E. 


Jackson,  Saml.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Jacobs,  LP.  N.  E. 

James,  Jos.  II.  Rev.  Prov. 

James,  C.  W.  Vt. 

Jaquith,  Charles  E.  Me. 

Jasper,  0.  H.  Rev.  N.  H. 

Jennison,  Isaac  Rev.  N.  E. 

Jewell,  W.  T.  Rev.  E.  Me. 

Johnson,  P.  N.  E. 

Johnson,  Chas.  T.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Johnson,  L.  D.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Johnson,  R.  B.  Prov. 
Johnston,  John,  L.L.  D.,  Wes.  (Jn. 

Jones,  W.  H.  Rev.  Prov. 

Jones,  Ephraim  N.  E. 

Jones,  W.  S.  Rev.  Me. 

Jones,  Homer  T.  Rev.  Vt. 

Jordan,  J.  W.  P.  Rev.  N.  E. 


LIST   OF    DELEGATES. 


245 


K. 

Lufkin,  Benj.  Rev. 

Me. 

Kellogg,  S.  Q.  Rev. 

N.  II. 

I, yon,  Chas.  M. 

Vt. 

Kellen,  W  m.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Lyon  Edward  A.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Kelley,  Samuel  Rev. 

N.  B. 

Kenney,  1*.  T.  Rev. 

Prov. 

M. 

Kendrick,  John 

Prov. 

Mack,  D.  A.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Kidder,  Wm.  J.  Rev. 

VI. 

Mack,  CD.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Kimball,  R.  11.  Rev. 

Me. 

Magee,  Jas.  P. 

N.  E. 

Kimball,  C.  E. 

N.  B. 

Magoun,  0.  S. 

Prov. 

Kim:,  B.  F. 

Me. 

Mallalieu,  TV.  F.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

King,  C.  A.  Rev. 

Me. 

Maloom,  W.  D.Rev. 

Vt. 

King,  J.  L).  Rev. 

Prov. 

Manson,  A.  C.  Rev. 

N.  II. 

Kniel,  Thoe.  Hon. 

N.  E. 

Mansfield,  John  II.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Knight,  Moses 

N.  11. 

Mansfield,  Joseph  II.  Rev. 

N.  B. 

Knight,  E.  II. 

Prov. 

Manning,  E.  A.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Knowles,  J.  0.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Mansur,  G.  W, 

E.  Me. 

Knowles,  11.  W. 

N.  E. 

Marsh,  Joseph  Rev. 

Prov. 

Knott,  J.  11.  Rev. 

N.  11. 

Martin,  N.  11.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Kyle,  W.  S. 

N.B. 

Martin,  Ezekiel,  Rev. 

Me. 

Martin,  Jonathan 

Vt. 

L. 

Martin,  II.  H.  Rev. 

Me. 

Lacount,  TV.  F.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Martin,  W.  P.  M. 

N.  E. 

Ladd,  A.  S.  Rev. 

Rev. 

Marcy,  Thos.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Ladd,  N.  G.  Dr. 

N.  E. 

Marcy,  Ichabod  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Ladd,  Cyrus  K. 

Me. 

Marston,  Moulton  11. 

N.  H. 

Ladd,  Mark  P. 

Vt. 

Marks,  Wm.  Hon.  Burlington,  Ct. 

Lansing,  John  A.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Mason,  C.  C.  Rev. 

Me. 

Lansing,  W.  U. 

Prov. 

Masterman,  J.  R.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Lane,  Geo.  W. 

N.  11. 

Mather,  James  Rev. 

Prov. 

Lapham,  J.  B.  Rev. 

Me. 

Matthews,  M.  D.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Law  ton,  TV.  B. 

Prov. 

Mattison,  Hiram  Rev. 

Newark. 

Leavitt,  S.  R. 

Me. 

Matteson,  H.  A.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Leavitt,  D.  P.  Rev. 

N.  II. 

MoCurdy,  C.  L.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Learned,  N.  M.  Rev. 

VI. 

McKay,  John  Rev. 

N.  E. 

LeBaron,  Ira  Rev. 

VI. 

MrKcnzie,  D.  B.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Leonard,  TV.  G.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

McDonald,  Wm.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Lewis,  Daniel  Rev. 

Vt. 

McAnn,  Isaac  Rev. 

Vt. 

Lewis,  Joseph  % 
Lewis,  J.  W.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Mcllroy,  Robert 

N.  H. 

N.  B. 

McKay,  Uriah 

Prov. 

Lewis,  W.  G.  W.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Mclntire,  Daniel 

Me. 

Lewis,  Wm.  B. 

Prov. 

Mclndoe,  George 

Vt. 

Linnell,  E.  Jr. 

Prov. 

McGilvray,  Wm.  Hon. 

E.  Me. 

Lippett,  N.  G.  Rev. 

Prov. 

McKim,  J.  W.  Capt. 

N.  E. 

Little,  J.  S.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Merrill,  Peter  Rev. 

Vt. 

Little,  Henry, 

E.  Me. 

Merrill,  C.  A.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Livesey,  Win.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Merrill,  A.  D.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Livesey,  John  Rev. 

Prov. 

Merrill,  Amos  Rev. 

Vt. 

Livingston,  B.  F.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Merrill,  Jas.  A. 

N.  II. 

Looniis,  F.  A.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Merrill,  C.  II. 

Vt. 

Lougee,  S.  F.  Rev. 

N.  II. 

Merrill,  D.  K.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Lovejoy,  John  Rev. 

Prov. 

Merrill,  J.  TV.  Rev.  D.  D. 

N.  E. 

Lovell,  H.  C. 

Me. 

Merrill,  Stephen 

N.  E. 

Luce,  Israel  Rev. 

Vt. 

Merrill,  Jacob  S. 

N.  E. 

246 


METHODIST   CENTENARY   CONVENTION. 


Merrick,  John  M. 

N.E 

Millen,  C.  W.  Rev. 

N.  H 

Mil  liken,  So  well 

Me. 

Miner,  A.  J. 

N.E. 

Mitchell,  Andrew 

Me. 

Mitchell,  John  Rev. 

Me. 

Mitchell,  H.B.  Rev. 

Me. 

Mitchell,  Randall  Rev. 

N.E. 

Montgomery,  Hugh  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Moore,  J.  R.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Mooar,  Joseph  Rev. 

Me. 

Moore,  E.  J.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Morse,  F.  C.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Morgan,  R.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Morrison,  W.  V.  Rev. 

Pro  v. 

Morris,  F.  G.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Morrill,  D.  C. 

Me. 

Morse,  S.  S. 

N.E. 

Moulton,  L.  D. 

N.  H. 

Munger,  Charles  Rev. 

Me. 

Munger,  H.  N.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Munroe,  S.  Y.  Rev.  D.  D. 

Phil.  Pa. 

Murdock,  A.  K. 

N.  E. 

N. 

Nason,  Chas.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Newhall,  Josiah  H.  Rev. 

Me. 

Newhall,  Fales 

N.E. 

Newhall,  Harrison 

N.E. 

Newell,  C.  H.  Rev. 

N.E. 

Nickerson,  Obed 

Prov. 

Nickerson,  J.  H. 

E.  Me. 

Nickerson,  Pliny 

N.E. 

Noble,  Charles  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Noon,  John  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Noon,  Saml.  H. 

N.E. 

Norris,  J.  AY.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Norris,  Saml.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

North,  C.  C.                      New  York 

Nottage,  Wm.  A.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Noyes,  James 

N.  H. 

Noyes,  J.  C. 

N.  H. 

Noyes,  Israel  C. 

N.  H. 

Noyes,  Geo.  N. 

N.  E. 

Nutt,  Henry 

Vt. 

Nye,  Eben  F. 

Prov. 

Otheman,  Bartholomew  Rev.  N.  E. 
Otheman,  Edward  Rev.  N.  E. 


Packard,  Manly 


Prov. 


Paige,  A.  W.  Rev. 
Palmer,  Anthony  Rev. 
Palmer,  M.   G. 
Parsons,  Robert  Rev. 
Parmenter,  Horace, 
Parrott,  I.  H. 
Patten,  David  Rev.  D.  D. 
Pease,  Benj.  F. 
Pease,  R.  A. 
Peck,  J.  0.  Rev. 
Peckham,  A. 

Peck,  Jesse  T.  Rev.  D.  D. 
Pentecost,  Wm.  Rev. 
Perry,  J.  J.  Hon. 
Perry,  Osborn 
Per  ham,  E.  G. 
Pettingill,  L.  B.  Rev. 
Pettingill,  Cutting 
Peterson ,  John  Rev. 
Phelps,  E.  A. 
Phinney,  Lot 
Phinney,  Levi 
Phinney,  Lot 
Piercy,  Henry  C. 
Pike,  James  Rev. 
Pilsbury,  Wm.  H.  Rev. 
Pitman,  Benj. 
Plaisted,  John 
Plumer,  C.  A.  Rev. 
Plummer,  Henry 
Poland,  D.  E. 
Pomfret,  W.  J.  Rev. 
Pond,  L.  W.  Hon. 
Porter,  James  Rev.  D.  D. 
Porter,  Edward  F.  Hon. 
Potter,  T.  C.  Rev. 
Powers,  L.  C.  Rev. 
Pratt,  Geo.  Rev. 
Pratt,  A.  L.  Rev. 
Prescott,  L.  W.  Rev. 
Prescott,   Wm.  Dr. 
Presbrey,  Alfred  A.  Rev. 
Prentice,  George  Rev. 
Prince,  Ammi  Rev. 
Prince,  E.  K. 
Puffer,  J.  M.  Rev. 

Q. 

Quimby,  Silas  Rev. 
Quimby,  Silas  E.  Rev. 

B. 
Randall,  D.  B.  Rev. 


Prov. 
Prov. 
Me. 
Prov. 
N.E. 
N.E. 
Prov. 
Prov. 
Prov. 
N.E. 
N.  E. 
N.  Y. 
N.  E. 
Me. 
Prov. 
N.  II. 
Vt. 
N.E. 
N.E. 
N.  H. 
Vt. 
Vt. 
Prov. 
N.  H. 
N.  H. 
E.  Me. 
Prov. 
Me. 
E.  Me. 
Me. 
N.  E. 
N.  E. 
N.  E. 
Prov. 
N.E. 
N.E. 
Vt. 
E.  Me. 
Vt. 
N.  H. 
N.  H. 
Prov. 
N.E. 
E.  Me. 
Me. 
Vt. 


N.  H. 
Vt. 


Me. 


LIST   OF    DELEGATES. 


247 


Ransom,  M.  Rev.  Prov. 

Band,  Franklin  N.  E. 

Ray,  Edwin  N.  E. 

Ray,  Wm.  B.  N.  H. 

Ray,  P.  P.  Rev.  \  t. 

B  dford,  B.  Rev.  Conn. 

Reed,  Seth  Rev.  Prov. 

Remington,  Joel  Vt. 

Remington,  Joshua  Prov. 

Richards,  L.  Dr.  Me. 

Richards,  Wm.  II.  Rev.  Prov 

Richards,  Daniel  Rev.  N.  E. 

Richardson,  Thus.  B.  N.  E. 

Richardson,  T.  P.  Hon.  N.  E. 

Richardson,  Ira  Vt. 

Rich,  Isaac  N.  E. 

Risky,  J.  E.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Robinson,  Wm.  J.  Rev.  Prov. 

Robinson,  II.  D.  Rev.  Prov. 

Robinson,  Ezekiel  Rev.  Me. 

Robinson,  Dana  G.  Prov. 

Robinson,  Daniel  Prov. 

Roberts,  F.  H.  Rev.  Vt. 

Roby,  W.  C.  Vt. 

Rodliff,  Ferdinand  N.  E. 

Rogers,  Chas.  S.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Rogers,  Chas.  E.  Rev.  N.  II. 

Rogers,  G.  W.  T.  Rev.  N.  II. 

Rogers,  Bethuel  N.  E. 

Rogers,  Charles  M.  E.  Me. 

Rowell,  Paris  Rev.  E.  Me. 

Roy,  Samuel  Rev.  IS*.  II. 

Rumerv,  Stephen  Me. 

Russell,  Amos  B.  Rev.  N.  11. 

Ryder,  Freeman  Rev.  Prov. 


Sanderson,  Roscoe  Rev.  Me. 

Sanderson,  Alonzo  Rev.  N.  E. 

Sanderson,  Aaron  Rev.  Me. 

Sanford,  C.  S.  Rev.  Prov. 

Sanborn,  Plumer  W.  N.  II. 

Sanborn,  J,  N.  N.  II. 

Sargeant,  A.  D.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Sargent,  Wm.  R.  N.  E. 

Satchwell,  II.  P.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Savage,  T.  W.  N.  E. 

Sawyer,  John  M.  N.  II. 

Sawyer,  J.  E.  C.  Rev.  Me. 

Sawyer,  Wesley  C.  Rev.  N.  £. 

ild,  I).  II.  Prov. 

Scott,  Joseph  Rev.  IS*.  B. 

Scott,  N.  W.  Rev.  Vt. 


Soott,  J.  C. 

Prov. 

Sears,  Franklin,  Rev. 

.  -1  IB.   M. 

eld,  J.  F.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Sherburne, J.  A.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Sherman,  David  Rev. 

N.  B. 

Si. is,  Wm. 

N.  E. 

Silfverstein,  G.  A.  Rev. 

E.  Me. 

Silverthorn,  Wm.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Simmons,  Oliver  P. 

Prov. 

Skinner,  Jonathan 

Prov. 

Sleeper,  Jacob  Hon. 

N.  E. 

Small,  M.  W. 

Prov. 

Smith,  B.  M. 

N.  11. 

Smith,  Horace 

N.  B. 

Smith,  D.  S. 

N.  H. 

Smith,  Pliny  B. 

Vt. 

Smith,  H.  H.  Rev. 

Prov. 

Smith,  Geo.  M. 

N.  J'. 

Smith,  Eleazer  Rev. 

N.  H. 

Smith,  E.  A.  Rev. 

N.  II. 

Smith,  Sydney  K.  Rev. 

Conn. 

Smith,  B.  F. 

Vt. 

Smith,  C.  N.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Smith,  E. 

Vt. 

Snow,  E.  S.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Snow,  Harvey 

Prov. 

Snow,  David 

N.  B. 

Spaulding,  B.  P.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Spaulding,  Erastus 

N.  E. 

Speare,  Alden 

N.  E. 

Spencer,  Moses  Rev. 

Vt. 

Spencer,  II.  A.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Spinney,  Jas.  S.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Spooner,  11.  I. 

Vt. 

Starr,  Wm.  11.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Stanley,  J.  J. 

Prov. 

Steele,  Joel  A.  Rev. 

N.  II. 

Stevens,  N.  F.  Rev. 

N.  E. 

Stevens,  C.  A.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Stevens,  J.  II.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Stevens,  Thurston  W. 

Me. 

us,  A.  C.  Rev. 

Vt. 

Stebbins,  L.  D.  Rev. 

N.  B. 

n,  W.  II.  Rev. 

r  iv. 

Stocker,  0.  E. 

Vt. 

Stover,  J.  G. 

E.  Me. 

Stout.  Wm.  Rev. 

Me. 

St  .well,  L.    II. 

VI 

Stratton,  M.  W. 

N.  E. 

Stratton,  Frank  Tv.  Rev. 

N.  II. 

Sturtevant,  Cvrus 

Me. 

Stubbs,  R.  S.  Rev. 

N.  H. 

248 


METHODIST  CENTENARY  CONVENTION. 


Stutson,  Nelson  Rev. 
Sweetser,  Geo.  II. 
Sweatt,  Ira 
Sylvester,  A.  R.  Rev. 


N.  E. 

N.  E. 

N.  H, 

Me, 


T. 


Tabor,  Church  Rev.  Vt. 

Taggart,  Irad  Rev.  N.  H. 

Talbot,  M.  J.  Rev.  Prov. 

Talbot,  M.  J.  Hon.  E.  Me. 

Taplin,  C.  P.  Rev.  Vt. 

Tavior,  L.  H.  N.  E. 

Taylor,  0.  T.  N.  E. 

Tenill,  H.  D.  jr.            *  Prov. 
Thayer,  L.  R.  Rev.  D.  D.       N.  E. 

Thomas,  E.  A.  N.  E. 

Thomas,  W.  H.  Rev.  N.  H. 
Thomas,  T.  Snowden  Rev.       Prov. 

Thomas,  James  S.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Thompson,  Wm.  N.  E. 

Thurston,  James  Rev.  N.  H. 

Tiffany,  Comfort  Prov. 

Tift,  A.  C.  Prov. 

Tilton,  RufusRev.  N.  H. 

Tinker,  H.  D.  N.  E. 

Titus,  C.  H.  Rev.  Prov. 

Titos,  E.  A.  Rev.  Vt. 
Tooke,  M.  M.  Rev.          Dixon,  111. 

Townsend,  Paul  Rev.  Prov. 

Townsend,  L.  T.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Towle,  Jos.  A.  N.  H. 

Trafton,  A.  C.  Rev.  Me. 

Treadwell,  T.  B.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Tripp,  Abiel  N.  H. 

True,  C.  K.  Rev.  D.  D.  N.  E. 

Tuck,  Stephen  C.  Me. 

Turner,  T.  A.  N.  E. 

Tupper,  T.  B.  Rev.  E.  Me. 

Tupper,  Saml.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Twombly,  J.  H.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Twombly,  Wm.  Vt. 

U. 
Upham,  Fredk.  Rev.  D.  D.     Prov. 


Vincent,  Hebron  Rev.  Prov. 

Vinton,  C.  H.  Rev.  Me. 

Virgin,  E.  W.  Rev.  N.  E. 


W. 

Wagner,  Jesse  Rev. 


N.  E. 


Wagner,  F.  J.  Rev.  Prov. 

Wait,  A.  D.  N.  E. 

Walker,  Ezra  Vt. 

Walker,  L.  S.  Rev.  Vt. 

Wallingford,  Philander  N.  H. 

Wallace,  S.  Y.  Rev.  Prov. 

Wardwell,  L.  D.  Rev.  E.  Me. 

Warren,  H.  W.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Ward,  J.  D.  Vt. 

Ward,  Josiah  Vt. 

Warren,  Washington  N.  E. 

Wardwell,  Wm.  A.  Prov. 

Waterhouse,  Daniel  Rev.  Me. 

Watkins,  G.  E.  N.  E. 

Webber,  Geo.  Rev.  D.  D.  Me. 

Webb,  Josiah  N.  E. 

Wedgworth,  Clark  Rev.  Vt. 

Weed,  Alonzo  S.  E.  Me. 

Wentworth,  C.  W.  N.  H. 

Weston,  S.  H.  Vt. 

Weston,  H.  S.  Vt. 

Westgate,  Geo.  L.  Rev.  Prov. 

Wetherbee,  Nahum  N.  E. 

Wheeler,  Chas.  H.  Vt. 

Whedon,  D.  A.  Rev.  Prov. 

Whidden,  S.  F.  Rev.  Prov. 

Whitney,  Chas.  A.  N.  H. 

Whitaker,  Geo.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Whitcomb,  R.  Rev.  N.  H. 

Whiting,  John  K.  Vt. 

Wight,  W.  H.  Rev.  Vt. 

Wight,  Wesley  Me. 

Wiggins,  Silas  Rev.  Vt. 

Williams,  Truman  Rev.  Vt. 

Williston,  Alanson  Prov. 

Wilder,  N.  W.  Rev.  Vt. 

Willett,  J.  W.  Rev.  Prov. 

Wingate,  Geo.  Rev.  Me. 

Winsor,  S.  A.  Rev.  Prov. 

Winslow,E.  D.  Rev.  N.  E. 

Winchester,  G.  H.  Rev.  Prov. 

Withers,  P.  C.  E.  Me. 

Woodbury,  John  M.  Rev.  Me. 

Woodbury,  Charles  N.  E. 

Wood,  Pliny  Rev.  N.  E. 
Wooster,  L.  T.         Wolcotville,  Ct. 

Woodcock,  Wm.  L.  N.  E. 

Worthen,  H.  W.  Rev.  Vt. 

Wright,  A.  A.  Rev.  Prov. 

Wyman,  W.  Rev.  Me. 


Young,  Chas.  Rev. 


N.  H. 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 


0035521546 


